Mindfulness grows like a tree: Cultivating mindfulness in systemic therapy trainees and relations to psychological well-being and psychological distress

Abstract

Background

Research shows that the mindfulness of psychotherapists and psychotherapy trainees has important implications for their psychological well-being and psychotherapeutic work. It is therefore beneficial to cultivate mindfulness in psychotherapy trainees. However, little is known about the process of mindfulness development in psychotherapy trainees.

Objective

To investigate the development of mindfulness in systemic therapy trainees and the relationship with changes in their psychological well-being and psychological distress.

Methods

This mixed-method exploratory study utilized a naturalistic uncontrolled experimental design. Two groups of systemic therapy trainees (N = 26) participated in a 7-month group mindfulness programme which emphasized cultivating mindfulness in daily life. Quantitative measures included trait, state, and process mindfulness, and psychological well-being and psychological distress (anxiety, depression, positive and negative affect, satisfaction with life, and quality of life). The qualitative part of the study included a thematic analysis of three diaries of mindfulness cultivation that covered  the entire duration of the programme.

Results

Changes in mindfulness, psychological well-being, and psychological distress were observed in participants quantitatively and qualitatively. Trait, state and process mindfulness increased, with an increase of mindfulness still observed at the 7-month follow-up. Trait anxiety decreased, while positive affect increased. Increase in mindfulness was correlated with decrease of negative affect and the increase of positive affect. Thematic analysis showed the participants’ rich formal and informal mindfulness practice, which was related to increased quality of life, development of personality strengths, emergence of positive changes in life, and a phenomenon named meta-mindfulness. Significant differences emerged between the first and the second half of the programme duration.

Conclusion

Mindfulness cultivation is related to improved quality of life in psychotherapy trainees and has implications for trainees’ capacity for learning as well as for the quality of their work with clients. In addition, some important insights about mindfulness development emerged in the study: it is harder to develop mindful acceptance than mindful awareness; formal mindfulness practice is the basis for informal practice; meta-mindfulness is important for mindfulness to be self-sustained.