Teaching Clients to Use Mindfulness Skills: A Practical Guide

by Maggie Stanton, Christine Dunkley

Overview

This book instructs readers on how to teach mindfulness skills that can be incorporated into everyday life, addressing the specific challenges of effectively passing these skills on to clients in a user-friendly way. 

Designed to help professionals introduce mindfulness to clients, the skills laid out in this book can help those struggling with problems of recurrent stress or ruminative thought, and benefit people wanting to live in a more effective, rewarding way. Incorporating a series of practical exercises and drawing on their own professional experience, the authors of Using Mindfulness Skills in Everyday Life clearly demonstrate the most effective methods for presenting mindfulness techniques to those with no previous experience. Topics covered include orienting the client to the skill, obtaining and using client feedback effectively, and introducing simple practice. This newly updated edition features up-to-date references and new clinical examples and a new chapter focused on adapting the material for specific clinical populations and for working online. 

This practical, structured guide is essential for professionals already teaching or planning to teach mindfulness skills, those taking courses or workshops, and for anyone interested in learning more about mindfulness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032478159
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/05/2024
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Maggie Stanton, DClinPsych, is a consultant clinical psychologist. For many years she led a team of psychological therapists in a large NHS trust. She has supervised and lectured at the University of Southampton and, as a director of Stanton Psychological Services, travels nationally and internationally presenting on mindfulness and other topics.

Christine Dunkley, DClinP, is Director of Applied Research and Training for British Isles DBT. International expert on DBT and Emotion Regulation, and the Clinical Director of Grayrock. She has 35 years of experience in the NHS as a medical social worker and psychological therapist.

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to teach mindfulness skills 2. Orienting clients to mindfulness 3. Introducing a mindfulness practice 4. Taking feedback after a mindfulness practice 5. Mindfulness of thoughts 6. Living mindfully 7. Acting wisely as a mindfulness skill 8. Generalising mindfulness skills to everyday life: case examples with detailed teaching notes 9. Adapting mindfulness skills for different settings and client populations

Editorial Reviews

'"But don't we already do this all the time?! Yes, but neither fully nor well". This book can change that. With clear succinct instructions, incorporating available research evidence, and a list of key tasks to complete at the end of each chapter, Stanton and Dunkley increase our collective mindfulness IQ. A text, a reference, and a consult team companion.'

Andre Ivanoff, PhD, Professor and Director, Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Program, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York. President & Board Chair, Behavioral Tech Institute, Seattle, USA

'This practitioners’ guidebook is a superb resource for boosting efficacy in teaching mindfulness. It richly integrates seminal ideas from CBT leaders and masterfully shows how to facilitate client engagement with an abundance of splendidly composed dialogues and analogies. Its chapters are anchored in strong bibliographies, and it admirably features adaptations for different settings and clinical populations.'

Raymond W. Novaco, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA

'Stanton and Dunkley have done it again! The first edition of this little book was an absolute gem and this second edition is a further treasure. New and more extensive examples cover all the challenges that a novice mindfulness teacher or leader of mindfulness skills practice may encounter with numerous practical suggestions to overcome difficulties. If you have never read this book, get it now and if you read the first edition, now is a great opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate your teaching with words of wisdom from Stanton and Dunkley.'

Michaela Swales, PhD, FBPsS, PFHEA, Professor, Programme Director, North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, Post-Graduate Diploma in DBT, School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, UK

'This is such an important book. Whilst the benefits of mindfulness are almost self-evident for those who practice it, teaching mindfulness is a different task. It’s riddled with challenges like navigating the sea of definitions, finding appropriate practical exercises, answering challenging questions from students, adapting mindfulness to specific populations, and many others. You’ll find the answers here.'

Rodrigo Becerra, PhD, Associate Professor, Clinical psychologist, Director of the Psychology Clinic at the University of Western Australia

'Stanton and Dunkley’s extensive experience in teaching mindfulness skills is clear in this practical guide. Filled with clinical examples, analogies and metaphors readers will find strategies to increase willingness, manage challenges and effectively teach mindfulness. The updated second edition continues to be on my highly recommended list and is a must read for clinicians teaching mindfulness.'

Sian Jeffery, PhD, Senior Clinical Psychologist & DBT Coordinator, Fremantle Mental Health Service; Western Australia, DBT trainer and supervisor, Psychology Training

From the Publisher