Loving‐Kindness in the Treatment of Traumatized Refugees and Minority Groups: A Typology of Mindfulness and the Nodal Network Model of Affect and Affect Regulation

Abstract

This article discusses how loving-kindness can be used to treat traumatized refugees and minority groups, focusing on examples from our treatment, culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral therapy (CA-CBT). To show how we integrate loving-kindness with other mindfulness interventions and why loving-kindness should be an effective therapeutic technique, we present a typology of mindfulness states and the Nodal Network Model (NNM) of Affect and Affect Regulation. We argue that mindfulness techniques such as loving-kindness are therapeutic for refugees and minority populations because of their potential for increasing emotional flexibility, decreasing rumination, serving as emotional regulation techniques, and forming part of a new adaptive processing mode centered on psychological flexibility. We present a case to illustrate the clinical use of loving-kindness within the context of CA-CBT.

Mindfulness-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of the treatment literature and neurobiological evidence

“…In metta meditation, users practise the intentional development of kindness and compassion toward themselves and others through verbal and visual exercises (e.g., imagining the experience of a particular emotional state with mindful awareness and attention). 37,39,40 Metta meditation is hypothesized to promote emotional flexibility, or the ability to shift from negative to positive emotional states, and psychological flexibility, or the ability to distance oneself from one's current mindset (affect, actions or responses, attentional bias) and contemplate other possible mindsets. 39,40 These skills may be crucial to recovery from trauma-related disorders, where emotions such as shame, guilt, anger, inability to experience positive emotions (anhedonia) and lack of self-compassion, predominate.…”

“…37,39,40 Metta meditation is hypothesized to promote emotional flexibility, or the ability to shift from negative to positive emotional states, and psychological flexibility, or the ability to distance oneself from one's current mindset (affect, actions or responses, attentional bias) and contemplate other possible mindsets. 39,40 These skills may be crucial to recovery from trauma-related disorders, where emotions such as shame, guilt, anger, inability to experience positive emotions (anhedonia) and lack of self-compassion, predominate. [41][42][43][44][45] Specifically, by promoting the ability to experience positive emotions toward the self and others, one could expect reductions in anhedonia and negative emotions of shame, guilt and anger while fostering an increase in compassion for self and others.…”

“…23 Another crucial area for future research is the use of metta mindfulness or loving-kindness approaches, which have garnered recent interest because of their potential to assist patients with PTSD in emotional and psychological flexibility and to foster compassion and empathy for oneself and others. 37,39,40 Preliminary work indicates that this form of meditation is effective in improving symptoms of PTSD and promotes increased self-acceptance, life purpose and decentring among veterans. 133,148 Furthermore, research suggests that changes in self-compassion mediated changes in symptoms of PTSD among those who participated in a lovingkindness mediation intervention.…”

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“…This aspect of the approach is based on an extensive body of literature showing positive effects of cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga on trauma [5,37,38]. In fact, comparative studies suggest that addressing distorted cognitions may be key to long-term outcomes in trauma recovery [39] Accordingly, many yoga programs incorporate a cognitive component by incorporating trauma-recovery specific themes for class or intentionally structuring the yoga language used in class [15]. The themes or statements serve as cognitive guides for the yoga students as they practice letting go of negative ruminations and adopting more positive ways of cognitively managing the present moment [1].…”

“…Preliminary analyses indicate a reduction in symptoms associated with trauma and increases in measures of wellbeing (Cook-Cottone & Guyker, manuscript in preparation). The YIS-TIY approach is also being implemented across Western New York as part free community yoga program for those who do not have access to yoga due to geographic location and poverty [61][62][63][64].…”