Relational Aspects of Mindfulness: Implications for the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy

Abstract

Research has demonstrated the benefits of mindfulness interventions with individuals, including connections to increased life satisfaction, and positive affect. Mindfulness has effectively treated anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, chronic pain, and addiction. Recent studies show the positive effects of mindfulness on relationship satisfaction, empathy development, and skillful communication. We explore the potential benefits for integrating mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental awareness, into the practice of marriage and family therapy. We argue that mindfulness may be useful with couples and families to improve communication, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship well-being. Finally, we discuss practical ways of applying mindfulness in family therapy.

Intimate Partners’ Perspectives on the Relational Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training: A Qualitative Research Study

“…In the field of couple and family therapy, interest into the relational impact of mindfulness has recently emerged (Gambrel and Keeling 2010). Neuropsychiatrist Siegel (2007) suggested that the effects of mindfulness practice mirror the benefits of secure attachment between children and their primary caregivers.…”

Descending from the Summit: Aftercare Planning for Adolescents in Wilderness Therapy

“…Gambrel and Keeling (2010) suggest a simple definition of mindfulness as nonjudgmental awareness, and they demonstrate the beneficial application of mindfulness to marriage and family therapy in improving family health, communication, and relational wellbeing.…”

“…Significant research has emerged supporting the efficacy of mindfulness to increase emotional resiliency, develop empathy, improve relationship satisfaction, and enhance positive affect, as well as decrease symptomology of many mental health disorders (Gambrel and Keeling 2010;Gillespie et al 2015;Bogart 1991;Miller et al 1995). Gambrel and Keeling (2010) suggest a simple definition of mindfulness as nonjudgmental awareness, and they demonstrate the beneficial application of mindfulness to marriage and family therapy in improving family health, communication, and relational wellbeing.…”

Interpersonal Neurobiology and Couple Relationship Quality: A Longitudinal Model

“…By investigating how the social aspects of neuroscience research can help explain relational functioning, MFTs can utilize the emerging discipline of relational neuroscience to promote effective interventions at intrapersonal and interpersonal levels (Tootle 2003). Further, mindfulness-based interventions are gaining popularity in the MFT field, yet there is a need for a systemic theoretical foundation for its application with couples and families (Gambrel and Keeling 2010). Interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB; Siegel 1999) is an interdisciplinary theory that is a way to apply relational neuroscience to clinical work with families and to conceptualize the use of mindfulness-based approaches from a relational perspective (Gambrel and Keeling 2010).…”