Abstract

This book breaks new ground by relating mindfulness to all of the other therapeutic approaches, across all the common presenting problems in counselling & psychotherapy.

Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as an effective therapeutic treatment with positive research outcomes evaluating its success. Meg Barker responds to our growing consciousness of mindfulness approaches, considering how its principles can inform everyday therapeutic work.

The book: 

- covers ways in which mindfulness approaches complement each therapeutic approach, as well as any potential conflicts and tensions that might arise

- spells out how a mindfulness approach would understand - and work with - common presenting issues, including depression, anxiety and addiction

- brings together work on mindfulness from across psychotherapy, science, and philosophy

- suggests possible future directions in mindfulness, particularly those which emphasise the social component of suffering.  

This engaging and accessible book will appeal to all counselling and psychotherapy students, as well as any therapist looking to complement their own approach with mindfulness theory and practice.

Meg Barker is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University.

'At a time when the expansion of diagnostic categories risks pathologising people who suffer with mental health issues, Meg Barker has written a humane book which stays true to the roots of mindful practice and draws out its deep and powerful implications for healing.

As mindfulness becomes mainstream in health care, there is a risk that it becomes an uncritical orthodoxy. Meg Barker offers an original perspective on mindfulness in a variety of therapeutic contexts. This book should be required reading for all professional practitioners interested in mindfulness'
- Dr. Steven Stanley,
Cardiff University

'Playful, clear, reflexive and grounded in day to day realities, Meg's book is something special - a thoroughly pluralistic book that challenges any notion that there is one right way to bring mindfulness into our professional, or personal lives' -
Duncan Moss,
Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Plymouth University

'Sensitive and compassionate. In this highly accessible book, Meg Barker brings a contemporary, updated and wide overview of the integration of mindfulness within a range of therapeutic modalities in addressing issues clients present within therapy. A very valuable and excellent resource for a wide readership'
- Jyoti Nanda CPsychol AFBPsS is a practising Chartered Psychologist and Existential Psychotherapist (registered with HCPC, BPS, UKCP and BACP Senior Accred).
She is Visiting Lecturer at Regent's College SPCP, London and author of several peer reviewed papers and book chapters in the area of Mindfulness and Existential Therapy.

I heartily recommend it to anyone wishing to include mindfulness in their life and practice.
Els van Ooijen
I highly recommend this book. It's well argued but balanced, and also acknowledges potentially problematic aspects of mindfulness within counselling and therapy.
Roslyn Byfield - Psychodynamic Counsellor