Applying Mindfulness in Psychotherapy

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Applying Mindfulness in Psychotherapy

• with
• Steve Shealy, PhD
• www.BeMindful.org

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What is Mindfulness?
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Definitions of Mindfulness

• As Mindfulness relates to psychotherapy, it
  may be best defined as
• awareness of
• ones present experience
• with acceptance.

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Mindfulness isintentionally directing ones
attention to their present experience without

• judgment
• internal dialogue/self-talk
• emotional reactivity/acting in
• physical reaction/acting out
• attempting to avoid the experience

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Mindfulness and Psychotherapy
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Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

• Three levels of application
• Therapist as Mindfulness Meditation
  Practitioner
• Mindfulness-Informed Psychotherapy
• Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy

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Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

• Support for Therapist (Germer, et al 2005)
• cultivation of non-judgmental awareness
• deepening capacity for empathy
• enhanced ability to observe self and client
• more subtle monitoring of therapeutic space

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Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

• Support for Client (Hayes, et al, 1999)
• greater awareness and acceptance
• self-calming/reduced reactivity
• personal empowerment/confidence

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Overview of Model

• Feelings of discomfort are the foundation of
  ones developing unskillful habits
• an urgency to seek pleasant and to avoid
  unpleasant feelings/sensations
• the inability to sit with this discomfort leads
  to
• acting in (withdrawal, depression, anxiety,
  physical stress/disease/pain)
• acting out (violence, substance abuse, sexual
  promiscuity, self-mutilation)

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Overview of Model

• One can learn not to react to discomfort
  through
• exposure to discomfort paired with equanimity
  (sitting meditation, Hatha yoga)
• insights into the passing nature of both pleasant
  and unpleasant experiences
• discomfort passes when I am able to relax and
  give it room
• awareness of our minds elaborations and how
  these cause distress
• learning experientially that, discomfort is
  unavoidable, suffering is optional

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Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

• Mindfulness as clinical intervention
• Bennett-Goleman (2001)
• Hayes, et al (ACT) (1999)
• Linehan (DBT)(1993)
• Segal, et al (MBCTD) (2002)

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Mindfulness as Clinical Intervention

• Emotional Alchemy Bennett-Goleman (2001)
• Schemas mental models for our experience
• Adaptive and non-adaptive

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Mindfulness as Clinical Intervention

• The Power of Mindfulness
• in moderating Stress/Schema activation
• Responding Vs. Reacting

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Mindfulness as Clinical Intervention

• Emotional Alchemy Bennett-Goleman (2001)
• Schemas mental models for our experience
• Within Close Relationships
• Abandonment I will be left alone, without
  anyone
• Deprivation My needs wont ever be met
• Subjugation Others needs always take
  priority
• Mistrust People cant be trusted
• Unlovability No one will ever love me

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Mindfulness as Clinical Intervention

• Emotional Alchemy Bennett-Goleman
• Schemas mental models for our experience
• With Larger World/Career Success
• Exclusion Im always the outsider, no place
  for me
• Vulnerability Something horrible is going to
  happen
• Failure Im not worthy/smart enough to
  succeed
• Perfectionism Ill never be good enough to
  succeed
• Entitlement Rules dont apply to me, Im
  special

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Emotional Alchemy

• Emotional Alchemy brings the power of
  mindfulness to traditional CBT/Schema Therapy
• Focusing on four domains
• thoughts
• emotions
• actions
• relationships

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• Mindfulness Interrupts a Schema attack through
  increased awareness of
• inappropriate emotional reactions
• underlying thoughts
• subtle physical changes and impulses
• priming for the attacks (minor events/mood
  states)
• connection between thoughts and feelings
• associated emotional charges
• insights and self-understanding
• the Magic Quarter Second impulse, intent,
  action

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• With Mindfulness one can
• Short-Circuit habitual reactions
• Shift from reactivity to response
• Choose to observe rather than suppress or
• act out emotional energy
• Choose Freedom

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• Power of Intention
• From our intention comes Our thoughts
• From our thoughts come Our speech
• From our speech come Our actions
• From our actions come Our habits
• From our habits come Our character
• From our character comes Our destiny

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Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Psychotherapy

• Steve Shealy, PhD
• www.BeMindful.org
• 813-980-2700