Mindfulness with Children and Adolescents: Effective Clinical Application

• Published in: Clinical child psychology and psychiatry Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 395 - 407
• Main Authors: Thompson, Miles, Gauntlett-Gilbert, Jeremy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.2008; Sage
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Psychiatry - methods; Adolescents; Age Factors; Awareness; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Psychiatry - methods; Children; Chronic Disease; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Humans; Medical sciences; Meditation - methods; Modification; Pain - psychology; Pain Management; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Relaxation; Relaxation Therapy; Self Concept; Treatment Outcome; Treatments; Young people; adolescent; young; mindfulness; child; Human; Cognitive therapy; Treatment; Adolescent; Behavior therapy; Review; Mindfulness; Child
• ISSN: 1359-1045; 1461-7021
• DOI: 10.1177/1359104508090603

Mindfulness interventions within adult populations are becoming increasingly popular. Research suggests that mindfulness can deliver lasting improvements in self-awareness and emotional stability to adults with severe and chronic conditions. As yet, research within child and adolescent populations is in its initial stages, although mindfulness shows great clinical promise for young people. This article aims to provide an overview of mindfulness to professionals who are working in child or adolescent settings. Initially, it will provide the reader with some orientation to and definitions from the field, before summarizing the current evidence for the utility of the approach. The article recommends specific clinical modifications for mindfulness with children and adolescents, as well as reviewing how to monitor and enhance the development of this skill. Finally, it highlights important differences among mindfulness, relaxation and other meditative techniques.