A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Exploration of Psychotherapists’ Practice of Mindful Acceptance

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore psychotherapists‘ practice of mindful acceptance. I employed the hermeneutic phenomenological approach with the intention of creating thick descriptions of how mindful acceptance is performed in therapy sessions with clients by psychotherapists with backgrounds in mindfulness. The findings for this study came from a variety of sources including, pre-interview questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, field notes, and feedback from member checks with participants. The results pointed to four themes: 1) recognizing, 2) allowing, 3) befriending, and 4) accepting self and others. The participants‘ practice of mindful acceptance was facilitated by various psychological processes including 1) decentering, 2) exposure, 3) emotion regulation, 4) self-acceptance, and 5) compassion. In their descriptions of mindful acceptance, the participants were able to simultaneously demonstrate acceptance of their internal processes and acceptance of their clients. The participants‘ accounts suggest that intrapersonal and interpersonal processes of acceptance are one and the same and that, in effect, to accept ourselves is to accept others. This study, in a context-specific way, provides accounts of how acceptance of clients can be done. The results of this study have implications for future therapist training and as well as therapist self-care.