| This study was designed to measure the effects of mindfulness on 20 beginning therapists' anxiety levels within therapy sessions. Assessments for anxiety and mindfulness levels were filled out by the therapists once a week following a therapy session in each of 6 weeks. The 9-item POMS-Anxiety State scale was used to measure anxiety whereas a modified version of the 5-item MAAS-State scale measured the therapists' mindfulness level in any given session. A mindfulness intervention was created and performed by the researcher for the participants between weeks 3 and 4. Both trait (t = 3.219) and state (t = 4.416) mindfulness, which had a positive correlation (r = .422), were found to increase after the intervention. As state mindfulness levels increased, state anxiety levels decreased. Results suggest that the training of beginning therapists in the practice of mindfulness can contribute to less anxiety for the therapists during their sessions. |
