The art and science of mindfulness: Integrating mindfulness into psychology and the

helping professions

Shapiro, S.L., & Carlson, L.E. (2009). The art and science of mindfulness: Integrating
mindfulness into psychology and the helping professions. Washington: APA.

Reviewed by Dr Hilary Bradley

Mindfulness has swept into the western world and there has been
much debate about east meets west and how well mindfulness, an
ancient eastern meditative practice, integrates into western
psychological and general health practices.

In their book The Art and Science of Mindfulness: Integrating
Mindfulness into Psychology and the Helping Professions, Shapiro and
Carlson offer a thoughtful, concise and clear consideration of all
aspects of mindfulness and how it might be incorporated into current practices. Both
authors are well researched in this growth area as well as having wide-ranging clinical
practice ensuring the sharing of extensive knowledge and expertise.

Following a foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which serves as a reminder of the very essence and
Buddha nature of mindfulness, Shapiro and Carlson frame their information and
experience into three parts.

Part one includes an explanation of mindfulness, as well as the various ways it might be
incorporated into the therapeutic process. Part two focuses on areas in which it has proven
helpful and what mechanisms are likely to have activated change. Part three explores the
further potential of mindfulness practice including self-care for clinicians, extending human
potential, and future research.

The authors offer clear explanations which deepen the readers knowledge and
understanding. They use quantitative and qualitative research to back their claims as well as
frame up directions for future research.

I enjoyed the Mindful Reminders throughout and particularly liked the well placed are you
mindfully reading right now (p. 79) and pause and ask yourself what you just read. Can
you remember it in detail, or was your mind wandering? (p. 90). These were in a research-
focused chapter in which, while reading, I found a tendency to want to rush compared to
the more practically-based chapters which held my attention with more ease. Nevertheless,
there was a good balance between research base and therapeutic and practical use.

I was surprised at the limited research written on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(ACT) considering the amount of research available and how widely this therapy, which
includes mindfulness practice, is used. On the other hand, the inclusion of spirituality,
human potential, and the farther reaches of human nature was positive. Additionally, the
promising research in the medical field highlighted in Chapter Six was encouraging as we
know from research that psychological and physical distress are closely related. Overall, the
book is well worth reading and would be a valuable addition in a clinicians library.

Hilary Bradley is a clinical psychologist for Community Mental Health and Bay of Plenty
Addiction Services, Bay of Plenty District Health Board.