Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Employee Mental Health (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and LMFTS

Course By: Tim Grigsby, PhD

Content By: Janssen, M., Heerkens, Y., Kuijer, W., Van Der Heijden, B., & Engels, J. (2018). Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on employees’ mental health: A systematic review. PloS One, 13(1), e0191332.

Course Description: Mindfulness has gained considerable attention globally due to its net positive effects for multiple mental health conditions across various populations. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) training have been adapted to address psychological functioning in the workplace as a means of preventing burnout and improve stress management. The majority of existing research has utilized MBSR training, and the researchers conclude it has plausible effects on a variety of mental health outcomes, including emotional exhaustion (a dimension of burnout), stress, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and occupational stress. Further research is needed to clarify whether specific effects exist across employment settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Compare and contrast mindfulness and meditation with attention to how they complement one another
2. Identify 4 potential positive outcomes employees can expect after receiving mindfulness-based stress reduction training
3. Describe the strengths and limitations of using mindfulness-based stress reduction for different groups of employees in different settings

Course Outline:

• Read and understand Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on employees’ mental health: A systematic review
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Reflect on the myriad of benefits employees can experience after receiving mindfulness-based stress reduction exercises
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the strengths and limitations of using mindfulness-based stress reduction across employment settings

Approvals: