A Multisite Pre/Post Study of Mindfulness Training for Therapists: The Impact on Session Presence and Effectiveness

Ivanovic, Mariana MS
Swift, Joshua K. PhD
Callahan, Jennifer L. PhD
Dunn, Rose MS

¹University of Alaska Anchorage
²University of North Texas

Correspondence regarding this article should be directed to Joshua K. Swift, PhD, Idaho State University, Department of Psychology, 921 S 8th Ave, Stop 8112, Pocatello, ID 83209. E-mail:[email protected]

Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 29(4):p 331-342, 2015.

Background:

To date, little research has tested whether the use of mindfulness by clinicians results in actual changes in psychotherapy sessions. The purpose of this multisite study was to test whether a brief 5-week mindfulness training program could lead to improved session presence and effectiveness for trainee clinicians (n = 31).

Methods:

At the end of 85 pretraining and 132 posttraining sessions, clients completed the client version of the Therapist Presence Inventory (TPI-C; ) and the Session Rating Scale (SRS; ).

Results:

Although the levels of client-rated presence did not differ between pretraining and posttraining sessions, sessions that occurred after the training were rated by clients as more effective compared to the pretraining sessions, t(170.91) = 2.63, p = .01, d = .30.

Conclusions:

This study provides preliminary session outcome evidence supporting mindfulness training for clinicians.