POSITIVE Therapy - Mindfulness

Question 1

Mindfulness

Answer 1

Mindfulness is a therapy as much as it can be used for the alleviation of the suffering caused by mental illness
Can be used by anyone, at any time
Help to improve their mental wellbeing
Focuses on improving wellbeing

Question 2

MINDFULNESS LINK TO ASSUMPTIONS

Answer 2

Improves wellbeing and aid in the flourishing of human potential
The good life
Focused on nurturing positive emotions, strengths, and virtues, and emphasis their importance and authenticity
Authenticity of the goodness and excellence
Train and individual to gain control over their thoughts and emotions
Free will

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

Mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while accepting and acknowledging feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations
Being fully present and learning how to live with more appreciation
Therapies are for reducing stress, anxiety and depression

Question 4

Gaining control of thoughts

Answer 4

Basic mindfulness meditation
Allow thoughts to come and go without judgement
Body sensations
Notice subtle body sensations and let them pass
Sensory
Notice sights, sounds smells and tastes
Emotions
Allow emotions to be present with judgement
Urge surfing
Cope with cravings’

Question 5

Meditation and Mindful Breathing

Answer 5

Learning to tune out distractions and focus instead on the sensations
The person will soon come to realise that these thoughts and feelings are impairment and transitory and will soon pass

Question 6

Effectiveness

Answer 6

Mindfulness techniques can gave positive effects on mental wellbeing
Mindfulness can be used in isolation or incorporated with another therapy
Mindfulness - Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Crane et al (2014) found that for people who have experienced three or more previous episodes of depression, MBCT reduces the recurrence rate over 12 months by 40%-50%
Williams et al (2013) MBCT is as effective at reducing recurrence as antidepressants
Teasdale et al (2000) evaluated the effectiveness of MBCT among 145 recurrently depressed patients
Patients were randomly allocated to receive treatment as usual or receive 8 classes of MBCT as well
Relapse to major depression was assessed over 60 weeks
MCBT provided the greeted help to those who had suffered the most number of previous episodes
No effect on those who had only 2 episodes
Reibal et al (2001) reported that MBSR decreased levels of anxiety and depression in 136 patients who participated in an 8 week mindfulness programme
Mindfulness techniques have also been adapted for a variety of settings
Workplace / prisons
Mindfulness is adaptable enough to be applied in all aspects of life
A Mindfulness in Schools project is now being taught in 12 different countries
9 week course helps students whether they are dealing with exam stress, bullying or seeking to enhance study skills
Used to improve students wellbeing and helping them to learn
Positive outcomes with regards to reducing anxiety and distress as well as improving behaviour among other areas
Weare (2013)
Children who used mindfulness practices more frequently reported higher wellbeing and lower stress scores
Kuyken (2013)

Question 7

Ethical issues

Answer 7

Highly ethical
Few side effects
Takes a positive attitude
Promotes free will & empowers people
Better than psychodynamic therapy as does not involve dragging up the past as a means of offering an explanation for present behaviour
Client anxiety is avoided
Better than CBT as Cognitive Based Therapies can result in the individual feeling guilty about their thought process
Teaches clients acceptance
Accessible to all
Online
Concern with mindfulness being delivered by untrained practitioners
Worse for people who use mindfulness as a way of reducing the symptoms of mental illness
Issue raised is the dark night
Rare but serious potential side effects of prolonged deep meditation
Plagued by traumatic memories and a loss of sense of self
Meditation can cause issues, particularly for the vulnerable
Mindfulness was not developed specifically to cure or alleviate symptoms of mental illness
Traditional Buddist meditation
Does not get to the root cause of a psychological disorder
Individual is taught to accept their thoughts without judgement and without dwelling on them, does nothing to address the issues that caused the thoughts in the first place
May not be appropriate for disorders such as PTSD, anxiety and schizophrenia