meditation

Meditation is an umbrella term for a wide range of contemplative practices that train attention and awareness—breath focus, body scans, loving-kindness, open monitoring, mantra repetition, and many others. Research has linked regular meditation to reduced stress, improved emotional regulation, and changes in brain areas related to attention and self-awareness.

For trauma survivors, meditation can be powerful and tricky. Simply "sitting with whatever arises" can be overwhelming for a nervous system that is still learning safety. Trauma-sensitive meditation emphasizes choice, titration, and grounding: practicing in short doses, keeping eyes open, staying connected to the body, and having support available. Used thoughtfully, meditation can become one tool among many for healing—not a pressure to "get it right."