Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness (88 page)

the rapport between the client and therapist and allow the clients to learn

how to care for themselves. These are important steps toward taking care

of the client throughout the process while simultaneously working toward

changing her life in a direction she wants.

We believe that for a client like Helen, these exercises will help to invest

her in the process of therapy, which has been a barrier to treatment in the

past. Additionally they will help her to better assess her current life situation

and identify what she wants her life to be about. This part of the process will

help her to determine the steps she needs to take to move in that direction.

We contend that incorporating mindfulness practice and values exercises tar-

get the experiential avoidance that many trauma survivors experience and

exhibit in their lives. These are powerful methods to help bring the client

into contact with his/herself and the present moment therefore allowing full

investment in the therapeutic process.

314

Victoria M. Follette and Aditi Vijay

Final Thoughts

Experiencing a traumatic event is difficult for any individual and managing

the psychological effects can be hard as well. One common reaction is to

avoid any reminders or references to the trauma, but this way of living can

be ultimately maladaptive. A contextual behavioral approach offers a way

to conceptualize a case through an experiential avoidance paradigm that

encompasses a range of behavior problems and deficits that are related to

a trauma history. It emphasizes the examination of proximal and distal fac-

tors related to the presenting complaints such that the clinician will take into

account all relevant factors. This approach incorporates principles of mind-

fulness and acceptance to help bring a client into contact with the moment

and then to begin to move their life in a direction they value. These core

principles work toward increasing psychological flexibility that ultimately

will broaden their ability to respond effectively. In addition to working with

clients from a technically valid context, it is also imperative that therapists

approach this work with compassion for both the client and themselves. The

work is difficult but the rewards are significant. Building on what has already

been established in the cognitive-behavioral therapies; we believe that the

use of mindfulness and acceptance strategies will enhance the repertoire of

clinical tools for trauma therapists.

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