Teaching mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to trainee psychologists: Qualitative and quantitative effects
- 15 May 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Counselling Psychology Quarterly
- Vol. 26 (2), 115-130
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2013.792998
Abstract
Mindfulness training has been related in previous research to reduced stress and increases in therapy-relevant characteristics, such as empathy, in health professionals. The present study investigated the experience of clinical psychology trainees as they completed mindfulness training and the impact it had on their stress and development as psychologists. Eleven trainee clinical psychologists completed the eight-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy programme. Assessments were conducted prior to and following training, and again after two months, using semi-structured interviews and self-report measures of perceived stress, empathy and mindfulness. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed four higher level themes: challenging experience; altered stress experience; altered therapy experience; and expanded knowledge. Statistically significant changes were found for one empathy sub-scale and three facets of a self-report mindfulness scale. Benefits developed through the mindfulness training were largely maintained, or developed further, over the two-month follow-up period. The impact of the course appeared to be influenced more by participants’ personal engagement with the training rather than amount of meditation practice. The implications for the training of psychologists are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Teaching mindfulness to psychotherapists in clinical practice: The Mindful Therapy ProgrammeCounselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2010
- Integrating mindfulness as self‐care into counselling and psychotherapy trainingCounselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2010
- Teaching Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to students: The effects of MBCT on the levels of Mindfulness and Subjective Well-BeingCounselling Psychology Quarterly, 2008
- On measuring mindfulness in psychosomatic and psychological researchJournal of Psychosomatic Research, 2008
- Promoting Mindfulness in Psychotherapists in Training Influences the Treatment Results of Their Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled StudyPsychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2007
- Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction programJournal of Behavioral Medicine, 2007
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of MindfulnessAssessment, 2006
- Using thematic analysis in psychologyQualitative Research in Psychology, 2006
- Mindfulness in Hospice Care: Practicing Meditation-in-ActionQualitative Health Research, 2005
- Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1983