Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness / Edition 1

by Fabrizio Didonna

Overview

Over the last two decades, Eastern psychology has provided fertile ground for therapists, as a cornerstone, a component, or an adjunct of their work. In particular, research studies are identifying the Buddhist practice of mindfulness—a non-judgmental self-observation that promotes personal awareness—as a basis for effective interventions for a variety of disorders.

The Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness is a clearly written, theory-to-practice guide to this powerful therapeutic approach (and related concepts in meditation, acceptance, and compassion) and its potential for treating a range of frequently encountered psychological problems.

Key features of the Handbook:

• A neurobiological review of how mindfulness works.

• Strategies for engaging patients in practicing mindfulness.

• Tools and techniques for assessing mindfulness.

• Interventions for high-profile conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma

• Special chapters on using mindfulness in oncology and chronic pain.

• Interventions specific to children and elders,

• Unique applications to inpatient settings.

• Issues in professional training.

• Appendix of exercises.

The Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness includes the contributions of some of the most important authors and researchers in the field of mindfulness-based interventions. It will have wide appeal among clinicians, researchers, and scholars in mental health, and its potential for application makes it an excellent reference for students and trainees.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441918680
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	10/05/2010
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2009
Pages:	523
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.28(d)

About the Author

Fabrizio Didonna is a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapist. He is founder and President of the Italian Institute for Mindfulness (IS.I.MIND). He is Coordinator of the Unit for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and he also works at the Unit for Borderline Personality Disorders in the Department of Psychiatry at the Casa di Cura Villa Margherita in Vicenza, Italy. He is a teacher and trainer at the School of Cognitive Therapy in Bologna, at the School of Cognitive and Forensic Psychotherapy in Reggio Emilia and at the Institute for Cognitive Science in Grosseto, Italy. He is an experienced instructor of mindfulness groups both in inpatient and outpatient settings and was one of the first therapists who planned and used mindfulness training with patients with severe disorders in inpatient treatment programs. He has given workshops worldwide in the field of CBT for obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and mindfulness-based training, has presented scientific papers at conferences in Italy and Europe, and published many articles, several chapters and two books. He is Vice-President of the Italian Association for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and also the Representative of the Regional Section of SITCC, the Italian Society for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. He has been practicing and teaching meditation for many years and gives training retreats in MBCT and mindfulness-based interventions in Italy and in many countries in Europe.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Where new and old paths to dealing with suffering meet.-

Part 1: Theory, Conceptualization and Phenomenology. 1. Mindfulness: What is it? Where did it come from? 2. Mindfulness and Meditation. 3. The Neurobiology of Mindfulness. 4. Phenomenology and emotional correlates of mindfulness.-

Part 2: Clinical applications: General issues, Rationale and Phenomenology. 5. Mindfulness and Psychopatology. 6. Mindfulness, compassion and emotional memory. 7. The Use of Metaphor to Establish Acceptance and Mindfulness. 8. Mindfulness and feeling of emptiness in psychopathology. 9. Assessment of Mindfulness.-

Part 3: Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Specific Disorders. 10. Mindfulness and Anxiety Disorders: Developing a wise relationship with the inner experience of fear. 11. Mindfulness and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. 12. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression and Suicidality. 13. Mindfulness and Borderline Personality Disorder. 14. Mindfulness and Eating Disorders. 15. Mindfulness and Addictive Behavior. 16. Mindfulness for Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 17. Mindfulness for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 18. Mindfulness and Psychosis. 19. Mindfulness and Chronic pain. 20. Mindfulness-Based Interventions in oncology.-

Part 4: Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Specific Settings and Populations. 21. Mindfulness-based interventions in an individual clinical setting. 22. Mindfulness with children. 23. Mindfulness-Based Elder Care: Communicating mindfulness to frail elders and their caregivers.- 24. Mindfulness-based interventions in an inpatient setting. 25. Training Professionals in Mindfulness: The Heart of Teaching.-

Appendix A: The practice of mindfulness.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: Mindfulness is a psychological process rooted in Buddhism used to help reduce suffering by increasing self-awareness and acceptance, thus resulting in change. This book addresses the theory and clinical applications of mindfulness.
Purpose: According to the editor, the book "illustrates the links between theory, science, and the therapeutic application of mindfulness for psychological and physical problems, highlighting the connections of these themes with Eastern tradition." He hopes the book "illustrates the current development and evolution of a third wave approach in cognitive-behavioral therapy" and provides "a practical and valuable tool for practitioners interested in applying mindfulness in a wide range of clinical settings."
Audience: In addition to clinicians, researchers, and scholars in psychology, psychiatry, and the social sciences who wish to more thoroughly understand mindfulness and its clinical applications, the editor intends the handbook as a reference for university students and trainees in psychology, psychiatry, social work, psychiatric nursing, and counseling. Dr. Didonna is a clinical psychologist and founder and president of the Istituto Italiano per la Mindfulness (IS.I.MIND). The contributors represent an international authorship from Italy, Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.
Features: The book begins with defining theoretical constructs and explaining the basis for mindfulness, including history, meditation, and neurobiological issues before showing how to use various techniques to address common symptoms. It demonstrates how to apply mindfulness concepts to specific DSM-IV diagnostic categories such as anxiety, OCD, depression, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, ADHD, and psychotic disorders. The book ends with how to apply these concepts with various populations such as children, the elderly, and hospitalized psychiatric patients. Two appendixes describe various techniques and list international resources. The book is easy to read and uses figures/tables to clarify the text. The strength of this book lies in its presentation of a strong theoretical foundation and the application of mindfulness to a variety of DSM and medical disorders.
Assessment: This is a fairly exhaustive look at mindfulness by an international authorship. It covers theory and practice quite well, addressing both psychological and medical disorders. This book should be in the libraries of both those who are interested in learning about mindfulness and those who are faithful practitioners.

Doody's Review Service