Impact of Mindfulness on Psychological Flexibility, Wellbeing and Self-regulated Learning of the Professional Doctorate and MSc Psychotherapy Trainees

Background: High levels of stress and burnout related to academic, placement and financial demands have been identified in Clinical, Counselling Psychology and psychotherapy Trainees. The ability to self-reflect, monitor, and enact strategies to enhance self-care can prevent burnout and enhance responsiveness to change. Studies indicated that the integration of a mindfulness course has the potential to enhance wellbeing, psychological flexibility, and academic success.
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the impact of a mindfulness-based stress reduction course on students’ psychological flexibility, wellbeing, and self -regulated learning.
Design: A whole cohort longitudinal control design was utilized to assess the impact of a mindfulness course on levels of psychological flexibility, psychological well-being, and self-regulated learning among doctorate in counselling psychology and psychotherapy trainees. These trainees attended 8 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction course online. Participants completed the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPI); the Motivated Strategies for Learning (MSLQ), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) pre-test and post-intervention along with a short reflective evaluation.
Results: The result showed that Mindfulness training enhanced the wellbeing and improved the psychological flexibility of Counselling Psychology and psychotherapy students.
Conclusions: Mindfulness training is one way that training providers can adopt to teach strategies for self-care to prevent burnout and professional development.