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Christ-Centered Intervention

Names

Institution

Course

Instructor’s Name

Date
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Christ-Centered Intervention

Christian Mindfulness

Evidence-based Christian mindfulness is an intervention with a Christ-centered emphasis

on shifting one's attention to the here and now. Mindfulness is a response to the dominant story

of our day, which emphasizes isolation, multitasking, and rushing through life without fully

appreciating what's happening in the here and now (Kraegel, 2020, p. 2). Using meditative

techniques that stress the significance of the present moment, Christians may foster a sense of

belonging and mutual support among one another. Christian mindfulness is a spiritual practice

that helps believers become closer to God and grow in their faith (Kraegel, 2020, p. 3). And the

Lord will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; he will lead you with his

lovingkindness; he will restore your soul; he will strengthen your frame; he will make you

fruitful and multiply you; he will make you abound like a garden whose rivers never run dry

(Isaiah 58:11). With the help of Jesus Christ, those who practice Christian mindfulness may

learn to be fully present in the moment while also cultivating inner strengths like optimism,

self-control, and contentment. Clinically, mindfulness training emphasizes adaptive responses

that improve emotional and psychological health and quality of life (Trammel, 2018, p. 501).

Development

Early forms of what we now call "Christian mindfulness" may be traced back to ancient

religious practices from faiths as diverse as Christianity, Buddhism, the Catholic Church, and

the Protestant Church (Trammel, 2018, p. 503). Despite the Christian context of this

intervention, it's worth noting that mindfulness may be employed in a secular context following

the client's values, faith, and beliefs. Catholic monastic institutions and communities practicing

Christian mysticism were the first to adopt mindfulness practices (Trammel, 2018, p. 503). This
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awareness method has been linked to grounding methods and talents from the time of Saint

Hildegaard, a German mystic who lived in the eleventh century and wrote about guided

imagery. Saint Ignatius of Loyola advocated connecting with God and the here and now via

prayer, meditation, and deep breathing (Trammel, 2018, p. 503). These two people laid the

groundwork for future clinical applications of therapeutic modalities.

Treatment method

Christian mindfulness draws from various therapeutic approaches, including prayer, deep

breathing, and Lectio Divina. Christian mindfulness prayer has increased happiness,

contentment with life, less stress, and a more relaxed state of mind (Flores-Carter, 2020).

Praying and meditating privately aids the intervention's purpose by fostering change inside and

outside (Scales, & Kelly, 2020). Saint Hildegaard's deep-breathing methods (a sort of

mindfulness therapy) use guided imagery in therapeutic practice (Flores-Carter, 2020). The

purpose of guided imagery is to help the person find tranquility and a greater understanding of

the meaning of a precious item they have chosen. Specifically, one may discover its importance

in the Bible, and a church stained glass window, or the cross (Trammel, 2018, p. 506). The

person is encouraged to visualize the holy item, which will bring about emotions of calm and

serenity. Christian mindfulness concludes with the practice of Lectio Divina (Flores-Carter,

2020). During Lectio Divina, one meditates on a biblical chapter to be fully present in the now

(Trammel, 2018, p. 504). By doing so, one may refocus their attention on the scriptural verse of

their choice while also listening with their heart (Trammel, 2018, p. 504). These spiritual

disciplines—prayer, deep breathing, guided imagery, and Lectio Divina—are geared toward the

same end: strengthening one's connection to God via greater presence and awareness.

Target Population
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Evidence-based interventions, such as Christian mindfulness, are well-suited to many

people who identify as Christians. Christians who might benefit from practicing Christian

mindfulness include those who have difficulty connecting with reality, want to go deeper into

their religion, and feel spiritually lethargic (Kraegel, 2020, p. 12). Integrating Christian

mindfulness with evidence-based therapies like DBT, MBCT, and ACT is possible within the

framework of social work practice (ACT). DBT's emphasis on emotional dysregulation aids

clients in tuning in to their feelings, reducing trauma-related symptoms, and enhancing their

capacity to cognitively reorganize their thinking (Trammel, 2018, p. 501). Those who have

experienced trauma and are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are the most

common candidates for DBT (Trammel, 2018, p. 5021). Individuals may be helped by

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) by allowing themselves to experience and

accept unpleasant feelings and thoughts. Therapy based on the mindfulness-based cognitive

therapy (MBCT) model is often utilized for people with severe depressive illness (Trammel,

2018, p. 502). Finally, ACT employs mindfulness as a technique for awareness to help people

experience their emotions rather than analyze them.

Strengths and Barriers of Christian Mindfulness

Strengths

Innumerable benefits accrue to both clients and therapists when Christian mindfulness is

practiced. A client's emotional reactivity and depressive and anxious symptoms may be reduced

via Christian mindfulness in a mental health context (Trammel, 2018, p. 501). With the

intervention's help, clients can better deal with stressful situations and think more positively

(Trammel, 2018, p. 501). On the other hand, Christian mindfulness is a kind of self-care that

may help social workers avoid burnout in the face of a heavy caseload and a lack of resources
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(trammel, 2018, p. 200). If a client desires to incorporate religion into treatment, the practitioner

may draw on their faith to guide their work. It has been found that practitioners can stay in the

moment and communion with the Holy Spirit when their clients actively include their religion

in their work (Trammel, 2018, p. 211). Mindfulness may help therapists and clients form a

deeper bond during therapy when used in a Christian context.

Barriers or Weaknesses

Since Buddhist culture has had such a profound impact on the practice of mindfulness,

Christians who practice mindfulness may find that their faith is seen as a hindrance or weakness

(Trammel, 2018, p. 199). Based on the eightfold path, which emphasizes the experience of

suffering, the identification with suffering, and the practice of detachment from suffering,

Buddhist-influenced mindfulness seeks to alleviate suffering and the mental anguish it causes.

The impact of Buddhist teaching on mindfulness intervention may challenge Christian

clinicians and their Christian patients (Trammel, 2018, p. 200). Therefore, this may cause some

Christians to be hesitant to use Christian mindfulness, resulting in losing the advantages

associated with this kind of intervention. Therefore, it is crucial to learn about the development

of Christian mindfulness and to include respect for the client's wishes, values, beliefs,

spirituality, and cultural background in all aspects of psychological work.

Conclusion

The Christ-centered evidence-based intervention, Christian mindfulness, focuses on being

present and attentive to one's thoughts and current emotional state. The practices of deep

breathing and guided imagery, Lectio Divina, and prayer are utilized by clinicians to provide

treatment. These three practices are directed toward Christians who wish to deepen their faith

and connect with the Holy Spirit. Christian mindfulness can be integrated into therapy
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interventions, including DBT, MCBT, and ACT. Christian mindfulness offers coping skills and

techniques to reduce stress and promote mental health, well-being, and emotional regulation.
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References

Flores-Carter, K. (2020). Medical Social Work Practice: A Christian Approach. Kendal Hunt

Publishing Company.

Kraegel, I. (2020). The Mindful Christian: Cultivating a Life of Intentionality, Openness, and

Faith. Fortress Press.

Scales, T. L., & Kelly, M. S. (2020). Christianity and social work: Readings on the integration

of Christian faith and social work practice.

Trammel, R.C. (2018) Effectiveness of an MP3 Christian mindfulness intervention on

mindfulness and perceived stress, Mental Health, Religion, & Culture, 21:5, 500–514,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2018.1505837