Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness

Over the last two decades, Eastern psychology has provided fertile ground for therapists, as a cornerstone, a component, or an adjunct of their work. In particular, research studies are identifying the Buddhist practice of mindfulness--a non-judgmental self-observation that promotes personal awareness--as a basis for effective interventions for a variety of disorders.

The Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness is a clearly written, theory-to-practice guide to this powerful therapeutic approach (and related concepts in meditation, acceptance, and compassion) and its potential for treating a range of frequently encountered psychological problems.

Key features of the Handbook:

• A neurobiological review of how mindfulness works.
• Strategies for engaging patients in practicing mindfulness.
• Tools and techniques for assessing mindfulness.
• Interventions for high-profile conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma
• Special chapters on using mindfulness in oncology and chronic pain.
• Interventions specific to children and elders,
• Unique applications to inpatient settings.
• Issues in professional training.
• Appendix of exercises.

The Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness includes the contributions of some of the most important authors and researchers in the field of mindfulness-based interventions. It will have wide appeal among clinicians, researchers, and scholars in mental health, and its potential for application makes it an excellent reference for students and trainees.

Fabrizio Didonna is a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapist. He is founder and President of the Italian Institute for Mindfulness (IS.I.MIND). He is Coordinator of the Unit for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and he also works at the Unit for Borderline Personality Disorders in the Department of Psychiatry at the Casa di Cura Villa Margherita in Vicenza, Italy. He is a teacher and trainer at the School of Cognitive Therapy in Bologna, at the School of Cognitive and Forensic Psychotherapy in Reggio Emilia and at the Institute for Cognitive Science in Grosseto, Italy. He is an experienced instructor of mindfulness groups both in inpatient and outpatient settings and was one of the first therapists who planned and used mindfulness training with patients with severe disorders in inpatient treatment programs. He has given workshops worldwide in the field of CBT for obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and mindfulness-based training, has presented scientific papers at conferences in Italy and Europe, and published many articles, several chapters and two books. He is Vice-President of the Italian Association for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and also the Representative of the Regional Section of SITCC, the Italian Society for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. He has been practicing and teaching meditation for many years and gives training retreats in MBCT and mindfulness-based interventions in Italy and in many countries in Europe.