Mindful Healing: Dr. Lenore Matthew’s Breakthrough in Grief Support

Mindfulness is an emerging tool for coping with grief. Characterized by holding a non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, mindfulness has roots in both Eastern philosophy and Western psychology. Scientific evidence supports its efficacy in easing various psychological conditions, including those experiencing grief and trauma.

Among those using mindfulness to help is Dr. Lenore Matthew, an expert in grief, trauma, and mind/body/spirit practices. She integrates mindfulness into her approach, contributing to the evolving landscape of grief support.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a state of being one with the present moment. It’s both a practicable skill and a way of being, as well as a mental process. Common definitions, such as “having moment-to-moment awareness” and “keeping one’s consciousness alive to the present reality” highlight the foundation of mindfulness: having a continuous, non-judgmental presence, even when facing challenging feelings.  

Mindfulness’s Role in Easing Grief

Mindfulness practices have been integrated into different treatment approaches. A study by Huang and colleagues (2021) explored the impact of mindfulness on conditions commonly experienced in grief, including chronic pain, depression, trauma, and anxiety.

Mindfulness may help with grief, especially in situations of unexpected death where the nervous system is in a state of shock, and coping mechanisms such as rumination may occur. Mindfulness helps to ease incessant thoughts and promote reframing.

Dr. Matthew’s Healing Approach and Mindfulness

In coping with the profound grief following the unexpected passing of her husband in 2020, Dr. Matthew turned to mindfulness as a valuable tool for healing. It provided relief during the initial shock, later becoming a daily practice that helped her understand and cope with the complexities of grief.

Today, Dr. Matthew’s work bridges the gap between traditional psychosocial interventions and mind/body/spirit practices, exploring the way intuitive and spiritual modalities affect people’s mental health and well-being, especially in the contexts of trauma and grief.

Her work is anchored in several scientific research initiatives. One of her current studies assesses the impact of receiving multiple mediumship readings on widows’ mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The study aims to understand how mediumship readings affect the healing process and connection to departed loved ones. Ultimately, the objective is to provide evidence that could help expand care and support options for those who have lost a loved one.

As Dr. Matthew explained, “Receiving a mediumship reading can be very impactful for someone in grief. Not only does it provide validation of our loved one’s continued presence, but it also opens the door to developing one’s own intuitive connection to our loved one. After a mediumship reading, we may start to notice loved ones’ signs more or explore other ways to connect to them. We become more mindful about the ways our loved ones reach out and ease our judgment, getting more curious instead.”

Dr. Matthew’s experience illustrates the substantial influence of mindfulness on the grieving process, noting that mindfulness helps foster mental clarity as well as enhances intuition.

She integrates mindfulness teachings into her Continued Connection program, which provides individuals with pragmatic tools to navigate their own grief journeys by connecting to their departed loved ones. Dr. Lenore Matthew contributes significantly to this field through her pioneering integration of mindfulness in the Continued Connection program.