How to Teach Mindfulness Skills: The Basics
The most important aspect of teaching mindfulness is to have a practice of your own. Many training courses will tell you it is vital to have a consistent personal practice before teaching others.
However, does this mean you have to have a daily meditation practice? No. Mindfulness is a skill that is separate from meditation. Although many think that they are the same, you can practice mindfulness at any time, in any context.
Mindfulness is a state of awareness. Think of an activity when you are completely present and focused on the task at hand. Although the task varies for each of us, most people can think of one thing that takes complete concentration. That state of focus is the beginning of mindfulness.
However, focus is only one part. Mindfulness also requires us to be present without judgment. We may be perfectly focused on a task, but often we are still in a judgmental mind. Our mind is often trying to determine if something is good or bad. Mindfulness requires us to notice this judgment and try to maintain a state of observation.
To practice this state, many people turn to meditation. But, it is possible to practice nonjudgmental awareness at any time. For example, walking mindfully is a practice of paying attention to the sensations of walking, staying present, without a destination, and allowing the mind to be in a state of observation.
To teach mindfulness, begin with a simple task. An excellent place to start is simply counting breaths. Count each inhale and exhale as one, and see if you can focus enough to get to 10. Then count backward from 10. Although it sounds simple, it can be quite challenging.
Another possibility for teaching mindfulness is through food. We eat several times a day, so we have many opportunities to practice. To teach this practice, offer a small piece of food. Have the participant notice all the aspects of the food using each of their senses.
Importantly, have them also notice judgments and thoughts that arise throughout the practice. Are they impatient? Hungry? After careful observation, they can then try a bite of the food. Invite them to notice all the flavors and sensations of eating while watching the mind and observing any judgments.
Mindfulness is only a practice of awareness. The purpose of these practices is not to rid the mind of judgment, but to just become aware of it. We cannot control our thoughts, but we can become more aware of them.
Teaching Mindfulness to Clients in Therapy
Mindfulness is an invaluable skill for all clinicians, whether you decide to teach it during sessions or not.
For clinicians, it can nurture your ability to stay present and feel compassion, two critical qualities of an effective therapist.
Therapists with a strong mindfulness practice may have an increased ability to maintain empathy toward their clients and not get carried away by their own judgment or distraction.
Psychoeducation for clients
Besides helping us be better therapists, mindfulness can also be taught to your clients to help them with their presenting issues. Because it has been used as an essential tool for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, some theories of therapy have been created specifically around mindfulness.
Mindfulness-based interventions expressly incorporate mindfulness as a therapeutic tool. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) all incorporate mindfulness as a crucial component of therapy.
MBCT directly teaches the client meditation and mindfulness practices and incorporates Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. DBT and ACT do not necessarily teach meditation but promote awareness and focused attention – foundations of mindfulness.
These mindfulness therapies have solid empirical evidence showing their efficacy (Baer, 2003). Mindfulness-based interventions represent a vibrant and growing field of treatment.
While these treatments require training and incorporate other valuable tools, mindfulness on its own is a skill that can be taught during any session. Learning to stay present without judgment can help clients learn to have more clarity, be less reactive, and develop a deeper understanding of their behaviors.
Below, you will find advice for teaching these simple yet powerful concepts in any setting.
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