Using relational mindfulness to facilitate safety in the clinical encounter

Abstract

Objective:

The therapeutic relationship in psychiatry is reliant upon first establishing a sense of interpersonal safety. This paper explores relational mindfulness as a way to facilitate safety in the clinical encounter, as well as proposes factors that enhance a clinician’s capacity to remain mindfully present.

Conclusions:

Through the ongoing practice of mindful awareness, self-care and self-awareness all clinicians can benefit from increased capacity for relational mindfulness to enhance interpersonal safety. This is then likely to benefit not only the patient and the therapeutic relationship but also the clinician.