Psychologists’ experiences of working with Mindfulness-Based Interventions in the context of the Therapeutic Relationship.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are psycho-educational group and
individual therapies designed to reduce psychological issues by integrating
mindfulness-based meditation practices with western therapeutic
techniques. Substantial research evidences the efficacy of MBIs, however
there are significant knowledge gaps about the way that working with MBIs
in the context of the Therapeutic Relationship (TR) is experienced by
psychologists. This is important for counselling psychology because the TR
is the most pivotal predictor of positive therapeutic outcome.
This study examined subjective accounts of psychologists’ experiences of
working with MBIs to explore the potential contribution of mindfulness to the
TR, the quality of the TR when working with MBIs and an exploration of
benefits and barriers to working with MBIs in the context of the TR. Seven
psychologists working with four interventions: Mindfulness Based Stress
Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT),
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy (ACT) were interviewed using semi-structured interviews.
Utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, three super ordinate
themes were identified: (1) Ways of relating, (2) Integration and (3) The
process of mindfulness. The results draw together the participants’
phenomenological experiences of working with MBIs portraying the qualities
of the TR of bond-connection, genuineness, empathy and care; acceptance
of self and client, attunement (awareness and responsiveness) and care to
self with internal balance.
The findings are discussed in relation to existing theory, literature and
practice. The way the psychologists experienced the TR while working with
MBIs was dependent upon the environmental setting. Suggestions for future
research and implications for clinical applications are presented.