Positive Mind Evaluation

• One reason why mindfulness is ethically good is because it does not cause psychological harm compared to other therapies. Client anxiety is avoided as it does not involve dragging up the past and trying to find an explanation for present behaviour. It does not focus on changing the process of thinking and instead encourages acceptance of the process of thinking. This is less frustrating for clients. However, by not addressing the negative thoughts could they come back in later life?
• Another positive ethical impact of mindfulness is how it contributes to morality. Mindfulness is being taught in organisations to enhance leadership skills due to its process of decision making. Ruedy and Schweitzer (2010) demonstrated how those who engaged in mindfulness were less likely to cheat on a task.
• Sometimes the effectiveness of mindfulness can be improved when in a group setting. Mantzios and Giannou (2014) investigated group vs individual mediation against people who were trying to lose weight. used 170 pps who were randomly assigned to practice meditation for 6 weeks in a group or individually. They found those in a group setting lost more weight and lowered there levels of avoiding social activities. This suggests how group mindfulness can have an even more positive impact.
• Mindfulness has also shown to be effected when integrated with other therapies such as psychoanalysis and CBT as it offers a new perspective for therapy. For example mindfulness-based CBT (MiCBT) is a newer therapy that incorporates CBT with mindfulness. It attempts to modify unrealistic thoughts and change the process of thinking not just the content of our thoughts.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has proven effective helping patients who suffer depression from relapse. Teasdale (2002) investigated MBCT amongst 145 recurrently depressed patients. They were randomly assigned to receive treatments as usual or treatment as usual plus 8 MBCT classes over a 60-week period. He found MBCT to provide signifcant help to those who suffered numerous episodes but not as much effect on those who only suffered 2 episodes. Did reduce the risk of relapse for many so yes it is effective.