Mindfulness, Therapy and Personal Development: Therapists' Perspectives

Background: The use of the term 'mindfulness' has become common in the cultural discourse in Western society, and in particular, in the psychological dialect. In recent decades, many therapists have shown a growing interest in mindfulness and its contribution to their therapeutic work. Extensive literature has been written about the dialogue between mindfulness and psychotherapy, both as a method of practice for the patient and as a self-practice for the therapist. This study focuses on the latter: namely, Israeli therapists who practice mindfulness consistently and routinely. The study aims to examine how therapists perceive the effect of mindfulness practice on the therapeutic process, their therapeutic skills, and their professional and personal development.

Method: A qualitative research based on the descriptive phenomenological approach. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 experienced therapists (psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers) who defined mindfulness as a significant part of their lives over the past three years or longer. Thematic analysis was conducted to understand and explore the perspectives of the research participants.

Findings: The findings were classified into four main themes: mindfulness in daily life, mindfulness - integration between the personal and the professional, mindfulness in the therapeutic encounter, and difficulties in practicing mindfulness. A conclusive model was developed to integrate the findings regarding essential elements of the therapists' mindfulness experience: here and now, compassion, suffering (discomfort), body awareness, and meditation. The model addresses these elements through four different prisms: therapists' personal lives, relationships with the patients, treatment perception, and therapeutic / personal benefits of mindfulness practice. The findings indicate a strong integration between mindfulness and the personal and professional lives of the therapists. This integration has extensive positive effects in various areas.

Research Contribution: The conclusive model offers a unique perspective for examining the dialogue and dynamics between mindfulness and psychotherapy, particularly regarding the mindfulness experience among therapists. The findings shed light on the therapists' perceptions regarding the impact of mindfulness practice on their professional work, personal lives, and the integration between the two. Research findings could contribute to developing models for supervision and training for therapists while imparting mindfulness skills as an essential practice in the therapeutic professions.