Mindfulness for Therapists: Understanding Mindfulness for Professional Effectiveness and Personal Well–Being

The benefits of mindfulness training for the treatment of patients are well–established; however recent empirical research has now confirmed similar positive outcomes of mindfulness training for therapists themselves. Mindfulness for Therapists: A Practical Guide to Improving Personal and Professional Well–Being presents the first program to bridge the gap between mindfulness as a therapeutic tool utilized by therapists and its use as a supportive tool for therapists. Revealing how mindfulness can help practitioners both personally and professionally, the authors present an innovative eight–week mindfulness protocol which may be worked through in private or small groups.   Fully documented and supported by online learning materials, the book begins  by clearly setting out the reasons why mindfulness training has so much potential as a supportive practice for therapists. Specific practical guidance is then presented, including ways to greet a patient mindfully, mindful self–soothing, and mindfulness exercises for the end of the working day. Key contributions include explorations of the five facets of mindfulness, the neurobiological foundations of mindfulness, the use of the “Three Perspectives”, and advice for integrating schema modes with mindfulness work. Innovative and thought–provoking, Mindfulness for Therapists offers invaluable guidance for the personal and professional well–being and effectiveness of therapists and professionals everywhere.

Acknowledgements 1 Welcome 2 Mindfulness 3 Week 1: Introduction to Mindfulness Week 2: The five elements of mindfulness Week 3: Integrating mindfulness into every day life Week 4: Mindfulness as a way of life Week 5: Mindfulness as a home base for therapists Week 6: Mindfulness of the body Week 7: Integrating mindfulness into therapeutic practice Week 8: Review and next steps Week 9: Your Oasis 4 Extending your practice Exercises in everyday personal and professional lives Mindfulness exercises for the helping role Mindful moments with your clients 5 Short Manual for running a group based on the presented material 6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 7 Further Reading 8 Guide to the Online Resources Index

Gerhard Zarbock is a clinical psychologist, certified CBT–, Schema– and DBT–therapist, a supervisor and trainer for CBT and schema therapy, and training director of a government approved CBT training institution (IVAH) in Hamburg, Germany.   Siobhan Lynch is a psychologist and researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. She runs modules in psychiatry research for medical students and mindfulness classes for the public.   Axel Ammann is a clinical psychologist and certified cognitive behavioural therapist. He works for IVAH in Hamburg, Germany and also has a private practice, focusing on mindfulness–based psychotherapy.   Silka Ringer is a clinical psychologist and a certified CBT–therapist for individual and group therapy based in Luebeck, Germany.