Self-Reality Checks Are Needed in Your Mindful Clinical Practice

It is highly important for helpers working in the co-occurring conditions field to become keenly aware of their own realities in practice and life that impact clinical effectiveness.  Below I have listed four areas that show up in clinical surveys and added four more that I have found to be important in my 32 years of clinical practice and clinical supervision.  You may already be mindfully aware of these realities of self, or you may not be aware of them at all.  Although the answers to the questions noted are highly subjective, can you identity any objective evidence to support your answers?

So let’s get on to taking the self-reality check-up.

1. Do you act consistently with empathy, respect, and appreciation for the diversities within the population you serve?  If “yes” – how much so?  On a scale of 0 to 100 how consistent are you here?___________
2. Do you form and maintain a positive, empathic relationship (psycho-dynamics and mindful awareness) with clients in your diverse served population? If “yes” – how much so? On a scale of 0 to 100 how consistent are you? ________________________
3. Do you consistently consider your own biases and personal preferences when dealing with the diversities of your served population, including spiritual/religious beliefs and practices as well as the Americans with Disabilities  listing of differences?  If “yes” – how consistent are you? Your score is:______________
4. Do you use mainly evidence-based clinical approaches (even if in creative ways) in serving your diverse population: If “yes” – what is your score from 0 to 100?________________
5. How sure are you that your own level entitlement or narcissism does not interfere with the effectiveness of your clinical services? If “yes” – how much so?  From 0 to 100 what is your score?________________
6. Do you provide effective (measured by…) services to your diverse population.  If “yes” – how much so? From 0 to 100 your score is:____________
7. Do you practice your own personal mindfulness (regular mindfulness, meditation, yoga, exercise, etc.) that impacts your own emotion regulation thus your services to your diverse population?  Do you have a regular practice? From 0 to 100 your score:________
8. Do you regularly check-in with yourself to determine if your own clinical condition/s may be impacting your services to your diverse population?  How do you do this?____________________________ What is your score regarding consistency? From 0 to 100 your score is:______________________

The best way to obtain an accurate determination on these powerful variables is to do regular check-ups with yourself, use peer consultation and clinical supervision, and do anonymous client surveys on these topics of practice.  Now average your scores to see where you stand on a continuum of from 0 to 100.___________

For more information refer to Freeman, C. and Power, M (2007). (Eds.). Handbook of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies... West Sussex, UK: John Wiley, pp. 3-24 and 443-476; Vietan, C. and Scammell, S. (2015). Spiritual and Religious Competencies in Clinical Practice…Oakland, CA: New Harbinger; Baruth, L. G. and Manning, M. L. (2007 edn.). Multicultural Counseling and Psychotherapy…Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Pretense Hall.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, Vermont

Author of Mindful Happiness  

CLICK HERE  or any image below to Order