Associations Between Specific Mindfulness Practices and In‐Session Relational Factors

Abstract

Using partial correlations, we estimated the extent to which 206 mental health professionals’ engagement in specific mindfulness and meditation practices had differential associations with components of the working alliance and in‐session empathy with a client. We made a priori predictions regarding the patterns of association based on shared variance related to cognitive versus affective processes, bodily versus mentally based practices, and practice frequency. Partially consistent with prior research, our results suggest that some mindfulness practices may be more strongly associated with specific facets of the therapeutic relationship compared with other mindfulness practices. We address implications for counselors and future research.

The relationship between mindfulness and multicultural counseling competence among mental health practitioners

“…While the results replicated previous findings, future researchers should evaluate the causal effects of mindfulness practice on MCC using self‐report and behavioral measures (Guzmán et al., 2013). Researchers should also compare different types of mindfulness practices on MCC (Johnson & Walsh, 2021), as well as with emerging factors associated with effective cultural counseling, such as cultural humility. Further testing of moderating and confounding variables, such as personality traits, is also needed.…”

“…Similar to prior research (Johnson et al., 2019; Johnson & Walsh, 2021), we estimated participants’ frequency of engaging in mindfulness practices by asking the question: “How frequently do you engage in mindfulness practices (e.g., meditation, yoga, tai chi)?” Response options included: Daily , 2‐3 Times a Week , Once a Week , 2‐3 Times a Month , Once a Month , Less than Once a Month , and Never . Based on a participants’ responses, we estimated the number of days per year that each participant would have engaged in mindfulness practices ( Daily = 365; 2‐3 Times a Week = 130; Once a Week = 52; 2‐3 Times a Month = 30; Once a Month = 12; Less than Once a Month = 6; Never = 0).…”

“…Among MHPs, dispositional mindfulness is positively related to client improvement (Ryan et al., 2012), the working alliance (Greason & Welfare, 2013; Johnson, 2018), empathy (Fulton & Cashwell, 2015; Johnson et al., 2021; Johnson & Kartchner, 2019), and compassion (Fulton, 2016). MHP engagement in mindfulness practices is related to the working alliance (Johnson et al., 2019) empathy (Johnson & Walsh, 2021; Leppma & Young, 2016) and counselor/client attunement (Schomaker & Ricard, 2015).…”

“…Similar to prior research Johnson & Walsh, 2021), we estimated participants' frequency of engaging in mindfulness practices by asking the question: "How frequently do you engage in mindfulness practices (e.g., meditation, yoga, tai chi)?" Response options included: Daily, 2-3 Times a Week, Once a Week, 2-3 Times a Month, Once a Month, Less than Once a Month, and Never.…”

“…A full discussion of this issue is beyond the scope of this manuscript; however, counselors and supervisees may be reluctant to engage in mindfulness practices based on a variety of concerns. These concerns might include incompatible religious beliefs (Johnson & Walsh, 2021;Biggers et al, 2020), a lack of representation or mistrust of helping professionals among ethnic minority groups (Biggers et al, 2020), a lack of evidence-based research on mindfulness interventions with ethnic minority groups (Biggers et al, 2020;Castellanos et al, 2020), or the emphasis of the individualistic benefits of mindfulness in communities favoring collectivism and interdependence (Bryan & Morrow, 2011). Other counselors may oppose mindfulness or meditation practice due to prior adverse experiences (Farias & Wikholm, 2016).…”