The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a descriptive understanding of couple and family counseling trainees’ experiences of using mindfulness techniques in their group supervision course. Counselor educators have called for additional research on the topic of mindfulness in counseling training programs because the current literature shows differing outcomes. The six trainees who participated in this study had completed between 1 and 2 years of coursework at the graduate level and were beginning their practicum requirements through the University’s counseling center. The counseling trainees participated in a focused mindfulness activity as a way to transition from their busy everyday routines to discussing and reflecting on their client’s progress, as well as their own experience within the therapy setting. Themes from the trainee’s responses highlighted a positive experience to learning mindfulness. Some trainees, however, expressed concern with using mindfulness in the therapy room until they felt more practiced in the techniques. Overall, our findings indicate that the use of mindfulness as a supervisory tool produced many benefits in the course of training. Implications for both training practices and future research on mindfulness with trainees are discussed.
Pregnancy and postpartum are full of developmental change for both women and their families. Family members are adjusting to their new roles in the family and women are beginning to define their abilities as a mother and caretaker. For some women, their experience during this time is convoluted by the experience of a perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorder (PMAD). In these cases, women's self of competency or mastery in their role as a mother can become entangled, leading to insecurities along with their depression or anxiety symptoms. Medication treatments and psychotherapy interventions have been established to address the mood and anxiety symptoms and to support the family system. However, a treatment is needed that addresses the PMAD symptoms and the internalization of women's feelings and emotions experienced during this impressionable and often defining time. In this article, we explore the use of Narrative Family Therapy as a way to help women deconstruct unhelpful narratives they may have created during pregnancy and postpartum. A case study is provided to illustrate how Narrative Family Therapy can be used to emotionally reauthor women's stories, and construct new meanings by separating their PMAD symptoms from their identity as a mother.
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