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The role of mindfulness in enhancing the counseling self-efficacy of counseling trainess
Author(s)
Date Issued
2016
Publisher
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Description
Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Dept. of Counselling and Psychology.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.) -- Hong Kong Shue Yan University, 2016.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-81).
98 p.
Type
Thesis
Programme
Master of Social Sciences in Counselling Psychology
Abstract
Background: Burgeoning research has established the positive therapeutic effect of mindfulness in different clinical population. Recently more attention has been turned to the potential influence on counselor or psychologist. As such, mindfulness has been linked to an increase of controlled attention, empathy, emotion regulation as well as self-compassion. Specifically, all constituents may eventually lead to the enhancement of counseling self-efficacy. This study aims at investigating the experiences of counseling trainees undergoing a structured MBCT training programme and its impact and effectiveness on improvement of different parameters including mindfulness, empathy, self-compassion, psychological distress, physiological response, attention and counseling self-efficacy.
Methods: A randomized waitlist control intervention study with a one-way crossover design was implemented. A total of 15 counseling trainees were recruited and randomly assigned to the study group or waitlist control group. The eight-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) training was carried out for the study group and waitlisted control group after baseline and first time (3-month) follow-up, respectively. Objective measurements were taken at baseline, first time (3-month) follow-up, and second time (6-month) follow-up. Specifically, quantitative measures for counseling self-efficacy, mindfulness, empathy, psychological distress, and self-compassion were made by use of self-reported questionnaires. Physiological responses and frontal midline theta activity were measured by use of biofeedback system.
Results: The prospective analyses employs a repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) design. Three measurement time points are the within-subject variable. MBCT training is the between-subject variable. Changes in quantitative and physiological outcome measures are the criterion variables. Trend analysis is considered across time. Significant differences in the outcome measures are found between 2 groups after the implementation of MBCT training for the study group. While after crossover, control group shows no significant differences from the original treatment group in change scores for almost all outcome measures. Specifically, there is a prompt effect of MBCT in terms of the enhancement of “perspective taking” in empathy and the “session management self-efficacy”.
Discussions: This study can shed light on significant practical implication and benefits for the mindfulness training on counselor or psychologist in a local context. Limitations and future directions are recommended.
Methods: A randomized waitlist control intervention study with a one-way crossover design was implemented. A total of 15 counseling trainees were recruited and randomly assigned to the study group or waitlist control group. The eight-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) training was carried out for the study group and waitlisted control group after baseline and first time (3-month) follow-up, respectively. Objective measurements were taken at baseline, first time (3-month) follow-up, and second time (6-month) follow-up. Specifically, quantitative measures for counseling self-efficacy, mindfulness, empathy, psychological distress, and self-compassion were made by use of self-reported questionnaires. Physiological responses and frontal midline theta activity were measured by use of biofeedback system.
Results: The prospective analyses employs a repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) design. Three measurement time points are the within-subject variable. MBCT training is the between-subject variable. Changes in quantitative and physiological outcome measures are the criterion variables. Trend analysis is considered across time. Significant differences in the outcome measures are found between 2 groups after the implementation of MBCT training for the study group. While after crossover, control group shows no significant differences from the original treatment group in change scores for almost all outcome measures. Specifically, there is a prompt effect of MBCT in terms of the enhancement of “perspective taking” in empathy and the “session management self-efficacy”.
Discussions: This study can shed light on significant practical implication and benefits for the mindfulness training on counselor or psychologist in a local context. Limitations and future directions are recommended.
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