Mindfulness
in the workplace
Dr Richard Evans, BA, MA, PhD, VetMB, MSc, PGDip;
Dip.Int.Psych; Dip. Supervision; MBACP (Senior Accredited);
UKCP-Registered Psychotherapist;
UKCP (HIPS)-Registered Supervisor
Senior Lecturer, Counselling Psychology
What is mindfulness?
“Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges
through paying attention on purpose, in the
present moment, and non-judgementally to
things as they are” Williams, Teasdale,
Segal & Kabat-Zinn (2007, p.47)
What is mindfulness?
• An essentially meditative practice (Kabat-Zinn, 1990)
• It’s NOT esoteric, New Age or spiritual
• A powerful means for enhancing wellbeing
• Strong evidence-base, over 30 years
A little experience of being mindful
• The breathing space….
Evidence-base
• Over 600 trials demonstrate effectiveness in
a wide range of circumstances (MBSR,
MBCT, MBCP…).
• A NICE recommended treatment for
preventing recurrence of depression, the
management of severe pain and chronic
illness.
Mindfulness in the workplace
• Mindfulness programmes introduced by, for
example:
Apple; Google; GlaxoSmithKline;The Home
Office; KPMG; transport for London
Google an interesting case in point.
1st programme in 2007- continuously since
Why workplace mindfulness
programmes?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More present workforce
Improved wellbeing
Improved productivity
Improved creativity
Improved self-regulation
Less absenteeism
Better communication & interpersonal relating
(Baer, 2003; Chu, 2010; Shapiro & Schwartz, 2000)
How implemented?
• Needs established personal practice to be
most effective (Kabat-Zinn, 1990, Williams et al, 2007)
• Usually offered as a structured 8 week
programme – 8 x 2 hour sessions plus home
practice
• Shorter introductions possible
What can we offer to help you?
• University-based workshops
• In house training ranging from half day
introductions to full 8 week programmes
• Collaborative working and research
• Other possibilities?
References
•
Baer, RA (2003) Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: a conceptual and empirical
review. Clinical psychology: science and practice, 10 (2) 125-143.
•
Chu, L-C (2010) The benefits of meditation vis-à-vis emotional intelligence, perceived
stress and negative mental health. Stress and health, 26, 169-180
•
Kabat-Zinn, J (1990) Full catastrophe living. New York, NY: Delta)
•
Shapiro, SL, & Schwartz, GE (2000) Intentional systemic mindfulness; an integrative
model for self-regulation and health. Advances in mind-body medicine, 16, (2) 128-134.
•
Williams, M, Teasdale, J, Segal, Z & Kabat-Zinn, J (2007) The mindful way through
depression. New York, NY: Guildford Press.