get creative

Guided Meditations for Mental Health Recovery

Meditation is a powerful tool for supporting healing depression, anxiety, addiction, and trauma. It's not about achieving a "perfect" calm state—it's about developing awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and patterns with compassion.

At Evolution Medicine, meditation is integrated into treatment. Dr. Lazarevic is a certified yoga teacher and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) instructor who provides guided meditations tailored to your recovery.

Dr. Lazarevic's Meditation Library

Access 60+ free guided meditations on Substack

Browse Dr. Lazarevic's Meditation Podcast Library →

Collections include:

  • The Yin Series - Deep relaxation, nervous system regulation, rest and recovery
  • Morning Practices - Setting intentions, building resilience for the day ahead
  • Sleep Meditations - For insomnia, racing thoughts, and difficulty winding down
  • Urge Surfing - Managing cravings and impulses in addiction recovery
  • Body Awareness - Connecting with physical sensations, releasing tension
  • Breathwork Practices - Regulating the nervous system through controlled breathing

Why Meditation Works

Scientifically proven benefits:

✓ Reduces anxiety and depression - Lowers cortisol, increases serotonin and GABA ✓ Improves emotional regulation - Strengthens prefrontal cortex, reduces amygdala reactivity ✓ Decreases cravings - Increases awareness of urges without acting on them ✓ Enhances focus and attention - Particularly helpful for ADHD and brain fog ✓ Supports trauma healing - Creates safety in the body, reduces hypervigilance ✓ Improves sleep quality - Activates parasympathetic nervous system

Meditation isn't a replacement for treatment—it's a powerful complement to therapy and medication.

take your first step

How to Practice Meditation

Informal Meditation (Everyday Mindfulness)

You don't need to sit on a cushion to meditate. Mindfulness can be practiced during daily activities:

  • Mindful eating - Noticing taste, texture, and sensations while eating
  • Urge surfing - Observing cravings rise and fall without acting on them
  • Breath awareness - Pausing throughout the day to notice your breathing
  • Sensory grounding - Noticing sounds, sights, and physical sensations around you
  • Mindful walking - Feeling each footstep, noticing your environment

Start here if sitting meditation feels overwhelming.

Formal Meditation Practice

Structured meditation builds deeper concentration and awareness:

  • Sitting meditation - 5-30 minutes of focused attention on breath or body
  • Walking meditation - Slow, deliberate walking with full awareness
  • Body scan - Systematically noticing sensations throughout the body
  • Loving-kindness (Metta) meditation - Cultivating compassion for self and others

Recommendation: Start with just 5 minutes daily. Consistency matters more than duration.

Recommended Teachers & Resources

If you'd like to explore meditation beyond Dr. Lazarevic's library, these teachers offer high-quality guidance:

For Beginners:

For Deeper Practice:

For Addiction Recovery:

  • Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) resources available through our practice

Meditation in Your Treatment Plan

During sessions, Dr. Lazarevic may:

  • Teach you specific meditation techniques for your symptoms
  • Guide you through body scans or breathwork
  • Assign meditation "homework" between sessions
  • Help you develop a sustainable daily practice

Meditation isn't mandatory—but patients who practice regularly often experience faster, more lasting improvement.

Get Started

New to meditation? Start with Dr. Lazarevic's "Introduction to Mindful Awareness" series on Substack.

Want personalized meditation guidance? Discuss this during your psychiatric consultation.

Schedule A Consultation
Call (212) 924-2871

 
look around you, observe

The Yin Series (for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation)