Plenarvortrag 9, Sonntag 25. 5. 2008 12:00 - 13:00
Paul Grossman, Psychosomatik Universitätsspital Basel
A prolegomenon to 'mindfulness' in trauma intervention: The concept of 'mindfulness' and its potential
The steadily growing acceptance of concepts of mindfulness in psychotherapy is largely due to the broad application and evaluation of the mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) program. Established in the 1980’s by Jon Kabat-Zinn, this intervention has been employed to enhance the well-being of people afflicted with a range of physical, psychological or psychosomatic disorders. In recent years, ‘mindfulness’ has become a popular term in psychotherapeutic discourse and literature, and there has been much speculation about the value of ‘mindfulness’ for interventions with traumatized individuals. It is, nevertheless, important to recognize that mindfulness, as embraced by the MBSR program, is one of the major foundations of Buddhist philosophy, psychology and practice. As such, it characterizes an approach largely unfamiliar, and sometimes even alien, to Western psychological thought and methods. At this early stage of applying mindfulness to trauma therapy, it may be useful to examine what mindfulness really is--within its original context and meaning--as well as to reflect upon several other related questions: What does the concept novelly contribute to Western psychology? What are its underlying assumptions? What are the risks and challenges to applying a construct from a very different worldview and psychological paradigm to our European vision of Psyche and Person? What is required of health professionals, in terms of personal mindfulness experience, that may enable them to comprehend mindfulness sufficiently to facilitate its acquisition in others? These and other questions will be considered, and a preliminary attempt, both theoretically and empirically, will be made to indicate the potential value of mindfulness practice for traumatized individuals.
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