Social Work Commons^™

Christian Mindfulness And Mental Health: Coping Through Sacred Traditions And Embodied Awareness, Veronica L. Timbers, Jennifer C. Hollenberger

Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mindfulness is increasingly implemented as a tool in mental health practice for coping and self-care. Some Christians worry that these practices might be in conflict with their own tradition, while other Christian contexts are reclaiming the contemplative aspects of the faith. Though clinicians are not trained to teach on religious topics and ethically must avoid pushing religion onto clients, conceptualization and research extend the benefits of mindfulness practices for religious clients. This paper will discuss the evidence for using mindfulness in mental health treatment and connect mindfulness to the Christian tradition. The authors explore how intentional awareness and embodiment of …