Mindfulness training for community-based psychotherapists: a feasibility study

Abstract

Background While mindfulness training’s feasibility has been assessed in many health care settings, the feasibility of teaching mindfulness to psychotherapists of various orientations for both self- and patient-care has not been explored. The objectives of this feasibility assessment were to determine the degree to which clinic psychotherapists were willing to complete a skills-based mindfulness training program; evaluate the acceptability of integrating mindfulness interventions into an urban community mental health clinic; examine the training’s influence on both personal mindfulness practice and integration into patient care; and explore the impact of a support group following the training. Methods Data on six aspects of feasibility were gathered through quantitative surveys, semi-structured qualitative interviews, and group observation and feedback, analyzed using grounded theory. Results Sixteen therapists and one administrator attended at least one session of this voluntary program and responded to the associated surveys. At 1-year post-training, 7 participants had attended one or more group support sessions, and 4 more than 50% of sessions. The following factors were identified as contributing to the training’s success: significant interest on the part of clinic staff to receive the training; diversity of the teaching staff, buy-in from clinic administration, provision of meditation scripts, role-play exercises, the variety of practices taught, and case presentations. Therapists indicated that the training helped them create a personal mindfulness practice, and several proceeded to integrate mindfulness into client sessions. A bi-weekly support group organized after the training encompassed group practice, discussion, case presentations, and information about trauma-sensitive mindfulness. Clinicians identified the following challenges to integrating mindfulness into sessions: lack of scripts in client languages other than English, the unacceptability of mindfulness to some clients’ religious beliefs, the lack of appropriateness for clients facing ongoing psychosocial crises, the lack of interest on the part of some clients, and the time constraints posed by brief therapy sessions. Conclusions These findings indicate that such training may be feasible in community mental health settings given support from leadership and the presence of qualified facilitators within the organization. Adaptations to the training based on participant feedback can inform a larger scale trial that compares our protocol with another intervention in the treatment of a psychological disorder or condition identified by the participants as having responded favorably to the program.

Implementation and effectiveness outcomes of Community Health Advocacy Teams to improve long-lasting insecticide net distribution and use in six districts in Ghana: A one-group pre-post-test study

“…The study showed a high increment in awareness level, access, willingness to purchase and use of LLINs. The association between community involvement and malaria awareness is consistent with other malaria studies conducted in Rwanda and Malawi which found that community involvement in malaria control intervention increased awareness of malaria and the intervention being implemented [22,23].…”

“…The study showed a high increment in awareness level, access, willingness to purchase and use of LLINs. The association between community involvement and malaria awareness is consistent with other malaria studies conducted in Rwanda and Malawi which found that community involvement in malaria control intervention increased awareness of malaria and the intervention being implemented [ 22 , 23 ]. A high awareness level among community members could also help address community misconceptions about LLIN use as becoming knowledgeable about malaria prevention strategies will consequently increase LLIN use among community members [ 6 ].…”

“…By employing innovative social interventions that encourage behaviour change, and co-creating the CHAT interventions with community stakeholders, this study has recorded high access to LLIN and appropriate LLIN use in all six study communities. As evident in other community-based studies [22,23,25], engaging community members and key stakeholders at the grassroot level has shown to have contributed to a successful implementation of the CHAT intervention.…”

Implementation and effectiveness outcomes of Community Health Advocacy Teams to improve long-lasting insecticide net distribution and use in six districts in Ghana: a one-group pre-post-test study

“…This suggests that the CHAT intervention is a good fit with the value system of the community members and is regarded as practical and adequate for further implementation. Studies have shown that high appropriateness and feasibility are necessary requirements for successful intervention implementation and the achievement of intervention outcomes [18][19][20].…”