There is currently substantial interest in the use of mindfulness-based approaches in clinical practice. This raises a number of interesting questions regarding the training of health professionals. There are a number of treatment modalities utilizing mindfulness but not as yet collective agreement as to the components and characteristics of mindfulness as they relate to the clinical setling. Furthermore, some mindfulness-based clinical programs employ mindfulness practice as the key to their approach, while others use mindfulness as a set of skills. The heart of mindfulness, however, is more than a clinical method or skill set, and because of this presents some atypical challenges for professional training. This chapter will outline the ways in which some mindfulness-based trainings are distinctive from other professional training programs.
“The most practical thing we can achieve in any kind of work is insight into what is happening inside of us as we do it. The more familiar we are with our inner terrain, the more surefooted our teaching – and living – becomes.” Parker Palmer
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Woods, S.L. (2009). Training Professionals in Mindfulness: The Heart of Teaching. In: Didonna, F. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09593-6_26
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