Effect of a Mindfulness‐Based Intervention on Counselor–Client Attunement

Abstract

The authors implemented a single‐case research design to evaluate a 6‐week mindfulness‐based intervention on counselor–client attunement with counselor trainees. Mindfulness‐trained counselors (n = 5) demonstrated attunement levels at 1.58 times the rate of a comparison group (n = 4). The authors discuss future research on mindfulness in counselor training and the usefulness of single‐case methods for empirical validation of interventions.

Evaluating Differences in the Working Alliance Based on Frequency of Mindfulness Practices Among Counselors‐in‐Training

“…Results of the current study are consistent with previous findings suggesting counselor engagement in mindfulness practices is associated with an enhanced working alliance (Schomaker & Ricard, 2015). These findings expand upon the results of prior research and suggest that the frequency in which a counselor engages in mindfulness practices differentiates the counselor‐evaluated goal and tasks components of the working alliance.…”

“…We considered only counselor evaluations of the working alliance, and not client evaluations of the working alliance. Although prior research has suggested a positive association between counselor mindfulness practices and the client‐evaluated therapeutic relationship (e.g., Schomaker & Ricard, 2015), results of the current study should not be generalized to client evaluations of the working alliance (see Discussion section). We intend to replicate the current study while assessing client and counselor evaluations of the working alliance.…”

“…The current study used a cross‐sectional design, which did not allow for the assessment of change in the working alliance over time (Kline, 2009). Whereas previous studies have examined change in the therapeutic relationship over time (see Schomaker & Ricard, 2015), future research should examine changes in the working alliance over time for counselors who engage in different frequencies of mindfulness practices.…”

The Relationship Between State Mindfulness and Working Alliance Among Counselors‐in‐Training

“…Dispositional counselor mindfulness has been positively associated with the working alliance among counselors (Greason & Welfare, 2013) and other mental health care professionals (Wexler, 2006), as well as with client improvements in interpersonal functioning (Ryan, Safran, Doran, & Muran, 2012). Counselor engagement in mindfulness practices has also been positively associated with the working alliance (Schomaker & Ricard, 2015) and with client symptom reduction (Grepmair et al, 2007). Findings from qualitative research have indicated that CITs who engaged in mindfulness practices reported fewer intrusive thoughts while in session, increased therapeutic presence, and greater acceptance of events that unfolded in the session, rather than pressure to perform (McCollum & Gehart, 2010;Schure et al, 2008).…”

Dispositional Mindfulness and Personal Distress as Predictors of Counseling Self‐Efficacy

“…Both dispositional (i.e., trait) and cultivated (i.e., state) mindfulness have been shown to be central to counseling self‐efficacy (Baer, 2003; Dekeyser, Raes, Leijssen, Leysen, & Dewulf, 2008; Greason & Cashwell, 2009; Grossman, Niemann, Schmidt, & Walach, 2004; Keane, 2014; Shapiro & Izett, 2008). The broad definition of mindfulness suggests that mindfulness is related to the development of counseling skills (Buser, Buser, Peterson, & Seraydarian, 2012), counselor self‐care (Shapiro & Izett, 2008), counselor self‐control (Bishop et al, 2004), client attunement (Schomaker & Ricard, 2015), and beneficial relationship qualities (Bruce, Manber, Shapiro, & Constantino, 2010; Ryan, Safran, Doran, & Muran, 2012). This indicates that mindfulness fosters a counselor’s ability to effectively perform counseling‐related tasks and supports the movement toward including mindfulness training in counselor development programs (Gockel, Cain, Malove, & James, 2013; McCollum & Gehart, 2010; Schomaker & Ricard, 2015)…”