Atenção plena e psicoterapia: mindfulness na clínica psicológica

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how the theoretical and practical elements of mindfulness are being incorporated by psychotherapists into their professional practice, with the goal of elucidating different ways in which mindfulness is applied in clinical work.The method used involved conducting semi-structured interviews with psychotherapists who identify as mindfulness instructors and integrate mindfulness both into their personal lives and their psychotherapeutic practice.The inclusion criteria for participants were: (1) a minimum of five years of experience as a psychotherapist; (2) self-identification as a mindfulness practitioner; (3) maintenance of a daily personal mindfulness practice for at least five years; and (4) application of mindfulness in clinical practice for at least five years.Recruitment was conducted through an online survey and via the researcher's contacts in major mindfulness centers in Brazil, such as Mente Aberta (São Paulo) and Brasil Mindfulness (Rio de Janeiro).The interview questions were structured into five key areas: (1) Awareness as a Psychotherapist, examining the impact of mindfulness on the therapist's self-awareness; (2) Therapeutic Relationship, analyzing how the practice strengthens the therapeutic alliance; (3) Patient Treatment, assessing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions; (4) Accessibility, exploring strategies to expand access to mindfulness; and (5) Depth of Practice, investigating the level of psychotherapists' immersion in mindfulness practice.Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach to identify, examine, and describe patterns or themes, allowing for an organized and synthesized presentation of findings.