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Becoming Mindful

Integrating Mindfulness Into Your Psychiatric Practice

Petros Levounis editor Erin Zerbo editor Alan Schlechter editor Seema Desai editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:American Psychiatric Association Publishing

Published:3rd Dec '16

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Becoming Mindful cover

As professionals in medicine and other clinical fields, the knowledge and practical suggestions included here, grounded in science and articulated with stunning clarity and everyday utility, will be hugely beneficial to the well-being of both the reader and any patient fortunate enough to have that individual caring for them. Reading this work is a win-win experience. Bravo! Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine, Founding Co-Director, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, Executive Director, Mindsight Institute

Several chapters feature embedded exercises and guided meditations, and an appendix with audio guided meditations and a resource list provides psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric residents, social workers, counselors, and nurse practitioners, among others, with readily accessible tools to use in sessions with patients.

According to a 2012 National Institutes of Health survey, 18 million adults in the United States—8% of the adult population—practice some type of meditation. What are the possible applications of meditation—and mindfulness in particular—in psychotherapy and psychiatry? Becoming Mindful: Integrating Mindfulness Into Your Psychiatric Practice tackles this issue in a down-to-earth manner designed for immediate applicability. Whereas most other books on the topic focus on the benefits of mindfulness either for the clinician or for the patient, Becoming Mindful offers chapters on both, providing advice on how clinicians can establish a personal mindfulness practice and encourage their patients to do the same, both during sessions and at home. For clinician and patient alike, the handbook discusses the practical aspects of mindfulness, from the most effective postures to specific practices, and offers solutions for overcoming common obstacles, including restlessness and boredom, sleepiness, and sensory craving.

Several chapters feature embedded exercises and guided meditations, and an appendix with audio guided meditations and a resource list provides psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric residents, social workers, counselors, and nurse practitioners, among others, with readily accessible tools to use in sessions with patients.

Key takeaways summarize each chapter's content, making it easy for busy clinicians to quickly reference the information they need to most effectively treat patients, even those in special populations, including children and adolescents; patients battling substance addiction; and patients suffering from such disorders as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. With additional sections on mindful eating, mindfulness and technology, and the growing field of positive psychiatry, this book introduces readers to the full scope of benefits that mindfulness has to offer.

Becoming Mindful is reader-friendly, it does not require previous formal training in mindfulness, and it provides clear examples of application. This book seems less philosophical and more concrete and clinically applicable than some of the more popular mindfulness books I have encountered. Another strength of the book is that it includes guidelines for how to use mindfulness, including detailed scripts for practicing mindfulness either clinically with patients or for clinician self-care a valuable starting point for a clinician wanting to explore the world of mindfulness and feel empowered to apply it in practice. It is concise and well organized, offers an appealing blend of science and practice, and is rich in resources and relaxing to read.

-- Katherine D. Daly, Ph.D., Director of Counseling and Wellness Services and Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL * Journal of Psychiatric Practice Vol. 23, No. 6 *

A rapidly growing body of medical literature suggests far-reaching health benefits from mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness-based interventions can be useful tools in the management of most psychiatric conditions; moreover, mindfulness practice is described as an important element in fostering therapeutic alliance and minimizing burnout in healthcare providers. Many clinicians find themselves both curious to learn more about mindfulness and overwhelmed by the prospect of beginning what feels like a daunting journey. This book offers the perfect place to start. Readers will come away with not only an appreciation for the simplicity and difficulty inherent in mindfulness practice, but also with specific strategies, language, and resources for introducing mindfulness to patients. A highly rewarding read!

-- Alexandra E. Hedberg, M.D. * Doody's Book Revi

ISBN: 9781615370757

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 358g

209 pages