Social Work Commons^™

Generating Therapeutic Attunement Through Mindfulness Practice, Kestrel Feiner-Homer

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Therapeutic attunement refers to the non-linear process in which therapists track the moment-to-moment changes in the somatic, emotional and energetic rhythms of the client, themselves and the intersubjective relationship that exists between them. Literature on this topic suggests that therapeutic attunement is imperative for creating empathic alliances that foster reparative neural growth and result in positive treatment outcomes. This study uses Scholarly Personal Narrative and single system design to explore the impact that integrating forty minutes of mindfulness meditation into my daily routine had on my ability to cultivate therapeutic attunement in my work with clients. Over the course of …

Mindfulness And The Oncology Patient: A Systematic Review, Kristina Babcock

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review was designed to gather and analyze data available regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness practice in decreasing depression or anxiety for oncology/hematology patients. The electronic databases used to identify studies for this review included the University of St. Thomas’ Summon Data Base, Psychinfo, Social Work Abstracts, SocINDEX and St. Catherine University’s Academic Search Premier. Sixteen quantitative studies met criteria and were reviewed and analyzed. All sixteen studies were divided between the categories of post cancer treatment/cancer survivors or active cancer diagnosis. The three major themes that surfaced within these two categories were depression, anxiety and stress. The studies …

Effects Of Mind And Body Interventions On Family Dementia Caregivers: A Systematic Review, Katherine C. Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Family members caring for a loved one with dementia encounter a multitude of physical and psychological stressors. Current interventions address some of these concerns, but are not adequate to address the daily psychological stress that leads so many dementia caregivers to anxiety and depression. The current review selects empirical research from the past twelve years on the effects of mind and body interventions on family dementia caregivers and finds that, while intervention type varies widely, overall results suggest that MBSR and yoga-based methods implemented for eight weeks can have a beneficial impact on caregiver anxiety, depression, mood, stress, and quality …

The Relationships Between Perceived Stress, The Big Five Inventory, The Five- Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, And Yoga, Erin Meyer Stamp

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Much research exists on the relationships between personality and stress, and other research examines the relationships between stress and coping. However, few studies have examined the relationships between how personality, stress, and coping. This study investigated the relationships between stress, personality, mindfulness, and yoga practice. A survey including an abbreviated version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), a short version of the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SV), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and qualitative questions on yoga practice was created. Fifty-eight people participated. Results indicate that personality not only impacts how people perceive stress, but it may also impact how people …

Mindfulness And Meditation: Transforming Therapeutic Presence In Clinical Social Work Practice, Leah B. Ghali

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study explored how practicing meditation and mindfulness influences psychotherapy practice. Qualitative methods were used to recruit and interview mental health practitioners with a personal practice of meditation and mindfulness. Nine participants responded to interview questions in person, via email, or over the phone. Using Grounded Theory and open coding, eight themes were identified: (a) definitions of meditation and mindfulness; (b) training obtained and/or pursued; (c) inspiration to begin practicing meditation and mindfulness; (d) frequency and method of practice; (e) integration into the clinical setting; (f) importance of neuroscience; (g) impact of meditation and mindfulness on self-care, burnout and compassion …

Exploring The Use Of Mindfulness With Individuals Diagnosed With Alzheimer’S Disease, Gina L. Hemmesch

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. This is a progressive disease with no cure. Are there interventions available to give individuals with Alzheimer’s disease hope? One such intervention is the use of Mindfulness practices. The purpose of this research is to explore how professionals working with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease use mindfulness in their practice and what the benefits of using mindfulness may be. Using a qualitative design, three participant were interviewed who use mindfulness with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The data was analyze using inductive coding of the research. Four themes …

Mindfulness As A Treatment Component For Adults Suffering From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Johanna L. Hauck

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has become a widely recognized and accepted mental health concern affecting many individuals. Various treatment approaches are used to alleviate the symptomology of this mental health condition including: different therapeutic approaches, psychotropic medication, and mindfulness. The purpose of this research project was to analyze and distill existing research pertaining to the neurological implications of trauma and mindfulness, with emphasis on how the latter is an effective treatment approach for the former. Data were analyzed in three phases: one, PTSD and Mindfulness; two, Mindfulness and the Brain and; three, Mindfulness and its Impact on the Brain for adults …

Yoga As Therapeutic Intervention With Survivors Of Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review, Julia C. Hutchinson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Survivors of sexual abuse state that the experience is harrowing, involving both their body and mind. Traumas like these stimulate the stress response and can result in disjointed memories within both the body and the mind. Working with the felt sensations of the body, in conjunction with more traditional talk based therapies, may help to create clarity within these disjointed memories. This systematic review was designed to explore the research question: What makes yoga a therapeutic intervention with survivors of sexual abuse? The review was set up using peer-reviewed articles and dissertations published after 2005. The databases PsycINFO, Alt HealthWatch …

Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Mindfulness In Veterans Who Have Ptsd, Marcus Kuboy

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have had a negative impact on a significant amount of veterans who have returned from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Mindfulness practice has proven to be an effective means to increase the quality of life (QoL) for many who have been impacted by TBI or PTSD. This study intended to examine the exact implications that having a TBI has on improving the QoL through mindfulness for veterans who have PTSD and TBI. This was a qualitative study of four professionals in the areas of TBI; PTSD; …

Effectiveness Of Mbsr And Mbct In Reducing Clinical Symptoms In Adolescents, Amber Statz

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Like adults, many adolescents live with mental health diagnoses and struggle to manage their symptoms. If adolescents do not find effective strategies to manage their symptoms, they may have a profound effect on their quality of life. While mindfulness has been practiced around the globe for thousands of years, it is an emerging method of practice in the mental health field. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was developed as a treatment for adults. Mindfulness base cogitative therapy (MBCT) is an intervention adapted from MBSR. The purpose of this systemic review is to explore the effectiveness of MBSR and MBCT in reducing …

Practice What You Preach: Dbt Therapists’ Skill Utilization In Burnout Prevention, Kate Browning Jergensen

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between DBT practitioners’ skill use and consultation team on burnout and stress levels. The study was exploratory in nature and used a mixed methods convenience sample that surveyed DBT practitioners through an international list serve. Burnout and stress were measured along with skill use, perspectives on consultation team, and demographic information. The sample included 135 survey responses and participants varied in demographic information. Results found that there was a negative correlation between burnout and skill use and that in general practitioners use the skills on a frequent basis and find …

Mindfulness In Traditional Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Study, Andrea M. Dorn

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Empirically tested research suggests the effectiveness and applicability of mindfulness interventions in psychotherapy to treat or provide supplemental treatment to a variety of mental health disorders, to improve the therapeutic alliance, and to promote self-care and use of self in clinicians. Despite the successes of mindfulness in the mental health community, only a select culture of clinicians utilize mindfulness techniques in their practice. In order to explore how mindfulness can impact the therapeutic process, a qualitative study was conducted. Seven clinicians who currently practice mindfulness and who utilize mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions in clinical practice were interviewed. The interviews explored …

The Somatic Methods Survey: Investigating Licsws’ Training In Physically Based Interventions, James W. Johns

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This clinical research project investigates how and when Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) in the State of Minnesota received training in somatic methods of helping. As a Masters of Social Work (MSW) student examples of somatic methods permeate class lecture, training videos, and observations made in the field. Though ubiquitous in clinical practice, methods of engaging clients somatically are not typically part of the core social work curriculum. This paradox laid the foundation for the Somatic Methods Survey which provided insight into how and when LICSWs develop skills in somatic methods of helping.

The Somatic Methods Survey was completed …

The Use Of Yoga In Eating Disorder Treatment: Practitioners’ Perspectives, Jennifer E. Mcmahon

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Eating Disorders are a growing mental health concern with serious consequences for those who struggle. The individual and complex nature of eating disorders presents a need for new, innovative treatment modalities. One such treatment that is gaining interest in the eating disorder field is the holistic modality of yoga. The benefits of yoga on mental health have been addressed in previous research. While previous research focuses on quantitative studies and outcomes of clients, this paper administers a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews done with licensed therapists and yoga instructors who practice yoga with the eating disorder population. The study focuses …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Mindfulness Practice With Clients Suffering From Anxiety, Amy G. Steiner

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mindfulness has been proposed as a potentially important new approach for the treatment of anxiety and has been increasingly used in clinical practice. However, to date no studies have researched the approaches that clinicians use in practice with anxiety. The goal of this study was to qualitatively investigate these approaches for anxiety using interviews with therapists on the ways they incorporate mindfulness in their approach with clients with anxiety. Six therapists outside of the formal approaches of mindfulness were interviewed. The interviews were semi-structured and questions were asked about their use of mindfulness in practice with anxiety. The interviews were …

Key Elements Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cheryl A. Nickelson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore the research question: what are the key elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that make it effective when working with people with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? Using a qualitative design, 6 participants from mental health agencies in Twin Cities, MN were interviewed. A semi-structured interview of fourteen questions was used based on the literature review to further explore the research question. Findings suggest that there is not one main element that makes DBT effective when using DBT with people with a diagnosis of BPD, but several elements that come …

Focused Practice: Exploring The Relationship Between Mindfulness And Empathy Among Clinical Social Workers, Shannon Savageau

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research project explores the impact of mindfulness on the practice of clinical social work as it pertains to building the skill of empathy. Mindfulness, in practice, varies from clinician to clinician; however, mindfulness in general involves having an expanded sense of awareness and attunement to the greater experience of the client. As such, current research (as discussed in the literature review) supports that those clinicians who practice mindfulness develop an increased compassion for self and others and thus are more empathic than those who do not practice mindfulness. This research is important to the field of clinical social work …

Impact Of Mbsr On Symptoms Of Anxiety, Stress, And On The Degree Of Mindfulness, Maureen Rivord

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Anxiety and stress are felt by millions of people in the United States, and when experienced at high levels they can leave a debilitating impact, including both physical and mental health concerns. The purpose of this research project was to explore the impact of a mindfulness course, specifically Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, on voluntary participants’ reported symptoms of anxiety and stress levels. The 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course took place in a mid-sized Midwestern city. Using quantitative methods the 10 voluntary participants were given a pre- and post-test survey where the participants reported their anxiety, stress, and mindfulness levels before and …