MINDFULNESS PROGRAMS FOR TRANSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Nadine Marty, Ed.D Rider University- Counseling Center

MINDFULNESS AND ACCEPTANCE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS: WHY IT MATTERS

• Transitions are NOT easy!• Higher education is designed to

create life-changing experiences• Higher education facilities may be

limited to maximizing the opportunities to shape and develop student growth

• Cultural changes

GOALS OF MINDFULNESS AND ACCEPTANCE TRAINING

1. Increase psychological openness and flexibility

2. Increase ability to be centered in the “now” and fully conscious

3. Increase engagement in meaningful value-based actions

• These targets counter the difficulty in finding peace and purpose in the word

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT):

WHAT IS IT?

• Mindfulness-based behavioral therapy• Attempts to unravel maladaptive patterns of

responding to situations• Eg. Student driven to study incessantly or

student procrastinates, avoids studying• Both behaviors are meant to control anxiety,

worry, stress, and/or anger• These behaviors often perpetuate the

negative thoughts and feelings

ACT MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

• Assumes that psychological pain is a normal part of living- not to be avoided

• Efforts to avoid pain lead to a core pattern of troublesome behaviors

FusionExperient

ial Avoidanc

e

Maladaptive

behaviors

SIX BEHAVIORAL PROCESSES THAT MAINTAIN

NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS

1. Fusion2. Experiential Avoidance3. Attachment to the conceptualized self4. Inflexible Attention5. Disconnection from personal values6. Inaction, impulsivity, avoidance

persistence

• Not always maladaptive

ACT: INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

1. Basic Counseling skills (i.e. reflective listening, empathy, psychoeducation, metaphors)

2. Experiential Learning• experiential exercises• mindfulness practices

3. Increasing Psychological Flexibility • “The Hexaflex” - Six components of

Psychological Flexibility

BEGINNING THERAPY

1. Develop “Creative Hopelessness”1. Help students uncover maladaptive

patterns of experiential avoidance2. Assess the workability of these

strategies3. Identify the consequences of these

strategies and patterns2. Let go of the struggle between

control + avoidance and acceptance

THE 6 CORE PROCESSES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY

1. Acceptance: tolerate negative thoughts, feelings, and worries2. Contact with the Present Moment :bring attention to the present

moment3. Defusion: notice the thought, distance from it, how does the

thought influence behavior4. Self as Context: understand the “self” as a container of

experiences5. Values : chosen direction for living6. Committed action: doing what it takes to bring values to life

MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR)

• Mindfulness- Jon Kabat-Zinn• The awareness that emerges through

paying attention on purpose in the present moment and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment to moment

• Treatment consists of focusing on the breath to ground the mind in the present• Generalizes to sound, smell, touch,

movement• Generalizes to all that is happening in

the present moment• Well documented positive effects on

physical-psychological health

MBSR GROUP 8 WEEKS

1. Location: no special facilities, learning to meditate and minimize distractions is essential

2. Screening Interview1. Is psychological issue appropriate for the

group?2. Degree of disturbance3. Contraindications, like dissociation, psychosis4. Motivation: openness, attendance, homework

(CONSISTENCY)5. Education: format and content of the groups,

not a therapy group for personal issues, and individual counseling may be supplemental

3. Group Facilitators: trained in mindfulness meditation and actively practicing it.

MINDFULNESS EXERCISE

RESOURCES

•  Langer, E. J. (2000). Mindful Learning. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(6), 220-223.

• Orsillo, S., & Roemer, L. (2011). The mindful way through anxiety: Break free from chronic worry and reclaim your life. New York: Guilford Press.

• Pistorello, J., (Ed.). (2013). Mindfulness and acceptance for college students: Theory and practical applications for intervention, prevention and outreach. Oakland, CA: Context Press.

• Teasdale, J., Williams, M., & Segal, Z. (2014). The mindful way workbook: An 8-week program to free yourself from depression and emotional distress. New York: Guilford Press.

• Williams, M., Teasdale, J., Segal, Z., & Kabat-Zinn, J. (2007). The mindful way through depression: Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness. New York: Guilford Press.

• Palousemindfulness.com – free, online MBSR 8-week program• http://herohealthroom.com/2014/12/08/free-guided-meditation-resources/• Insight Timer – free application featuring:• 3863 free Guided Meditations• 971 of the world's best meditation teachers• 3970 Groups• 1.5m meditators

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LOCAL CAMPUSES?

• ACT programs

• MBSR programs – 8-week program

• Mini-mindfulness workshops – drop-in style to learn a technique; 20 minutes in length

• The Mindful Way Workbook – 8-week program

• Campus psychoeducational programming that incorporates information and skills to promote resiliency

• Varieties of skill-building workshops – addressing anxiety and depression, mood-management, attentional issues, relationship-building

• Mindfulness meditation workshop – drop-in style at noon, 3 times per week