Workshop 2

Mindfulness-Based Interventions: supporting delivery with integrity and adapting to different clinical groups

Pamela Jacobsen, University of Bath

When difficult thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations arise we often react by pushing them away or getting caught up in fighting against our experiences. This can lead to greater suffering and interference associated with these difficult experiences. Mindfulness offers an alternative way; by responding rather than reacting, by bringing non-judgmental awareness, acceptance of the present moment, and a letting go of struggling or fighting against experiences. Mindfulness-Based interventions have been shown to be effective in a wide range of difficulties, including reducing the risk of relapse in depression, and reducing distress associated with experiences such as hearing voices in psychosis.

This workshop will be suitable for a beginner level of knowledge and skills but will also be suitable for those with more experience. All participants will be invited to take part in experiential exercises throughout the workshop which will be led by the workshop leader. No special equipment will be required but wearing comfortable clothes which allow you to move around freely in would be recommended.

Implications for everyday clinical practice of CBT

Mindfulness-based interventions are part of routine clinical practice in many services, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to prevent relapse in depression. More broadly, many CBT practitioners are often interested in incorporating mindfulness skills within other CBT protocols for a wide range of presenting difficulties. This workshop will help attendees understand how to practice mindfulness safely as a practitioner, the evidence base for mindfulness-based interventions in different problem areas, and how to adapt interventions for different populations.

Key Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand good practice and ethical guidelines for teaching mindfulness and incorporating mindfulness into clinical interventions, including training, CPD, and the need for specialist supervision
• Be familiar with the three core mindfulness practices used in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (body scan, mindfulness of the breath, and mindful movement).
• Develop and use a mindfulness formulation to help guide interventions in clinical practice
• Understand how practices can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual client as well as the clinical setting and mode of delivery (e.g. in-person or online, in a group or individually).

Dr. Pamela Jacobsen is a Clinical Psychologist and Mindfulness teacher with many years’ experience in delivering mindfulness interventions across NHS, university, and community settings. Pamela’s current role is Director of the newly founded NIHR Mental Health Research Group (MHRG) at the University of Bath. Pamela completed her BA in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, before going on to undertake her DClinPsy and PhD at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College London. In her research work, Pamela specialises in developing and evaluating psychological interventions for psychosis, with a particular interest in inpatient settings, and CBT and mindfulness-based approaches. 

References

Ainsworth, B., Atkinson, M. J., AlBedah, E., Duncan, S., Groot, J., Jacobsen, P., James, A., Jenkins, T. A., Kylisova, K., Marks, E., Osborne, E. L., Remskar, M., & Underhill, R. (2023). Current Tensions and Challenges in Mindfulness Research and Practice. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-023-09584-9

Böge, K., Thomas, N., & Jacobsen, P. (2021). Is mindfulness for psychosis harmful? Deconstructing a myth. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 218(2), 71-72. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.165