Using mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions in psychiatric nursing practice-part II: Mindfulness-based approaches for all phases of psychotherapy-clinical case study

Finding effective nursing interventions for the treatment of mental illness is a major concern for advanced practice psychiatric nurses (APPN). Increasingly, innovative psychotherapeutic treatment modalities are being used for the treatment of individuals with serious mental illness. One such innovative approach, Mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions, has been shown to relieve distress for individuals with medical and psychiatric illnesses. In Part I of this two-part article, the authors described principle concepts of mindfulness, reviewed current research in the usefulness of mindfulness practice for treatment of psychiatric illnesses. The structure and content of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was also outlined and provided the theoretical basis for this treatment approach. This alternative therapeutic approach offers potential usefulness for the treatment of individuals suffering from mental illness. Part II of this article presents a more detailed explanation of mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches for all phases of psychotherapy and identifies relevant research questions that will provide an empirical base to guide clinical practice. A case study illustrates mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions.