Mindfulness as Foundation of the Helping Relationship: A Holistic Approach to Educating Health Practitioners and Teachers
Mindfulness as Foundation of the Helping Relationship: A Holistic Approach to Educating Health Practitioners and Teachers
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Issue Date
2000
Authors
Aldridge, Linda Jane
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Abstract
In this paper, I explore mindfulness as the practice upon which the cultivation of individual qualities of being rests. I believe that mindfulness, in all its rich manifestations and at many levels, lies at the heart of developing the qualities of being which support relationship and, therefore, ultimately facilitate healing/helping and educating/learning. I posit that integration of mindfulness education with all health practitioner and helper education is essential to a genuinely holistic approach. Initial sections of this paper explore my personal process with respect to qualities of being, healing/helping relationship, and mindfulness education: they also summarize relevant opinion and scholarly work in these areas. The latter sections of this paper focus on the state of mindfulness education in the training of medical doctors and massage therapists. Drawing on both research and my personal experience, I conclude by offering suggestions for enhancing mindfulness activities in the practitioner/helper education process. I hope that these suggestions will find wide application throughout the educational systems of many healing/helping disciplines.