AUSENCIA DE FICCIÓN Y MITOS CREACIONISTAS

The flyer provided interested participants with my City University email address and research contact telephone number that was used only by me for the purposes of this research study. No names or numbers of participants were recorded on the mobile phone. If I did not answer the pa ti ipa t s all, the pa ti ipa t as edi e ted to an answer phone message asking them to leave their contact details and a convenient time for them to be contacted.

Four participants were recommended through counselling psychologist colleagues, while the remaining four came from the anxiety workshop. On receipt of contact from the participant (either by email or telephone message) I contacted the participant by telephone. Participants e e asked if this as a o e ie t ti e to speak, all said es . I the i t odu ed self a d offered the participants the opportunity to ask any further questions. I went through the information sheet over the phone with them and they all stated they had understood the information provided (see Appendix 2 for Information sheet for participants). All participants stated that they were still interested in partaking in the study; we then collaboratively arranged a convenient time and meeting place suitable to both the participant and me. Two male clinical psychologists showed an interest in taking part in the study, however, due to other commitments; they were unable to take part in the end.

71 2.5.4 Participants

“e e fe ale adults a d o e ale took pa t i this stud . The pa ti ipa ts age a ge was between 28-54 years. Figure 2, displays the demographic information collected from the sample. This information was gathered to enable a description of the population. All of the participants described themselves as white; two defined themselves as Buddhists, while the remaining six did not. Three participants described that they practiced both formal and informal mindfulness on a daily basis, while another four described practicing informal mindfulness on a daily basis. Only one participant described that she was currently not using mindfulness, although she described that she had periods of either intensively using it or not.

Age Gender Year Qualified Number of Years Using MM With Clients

Theoretical Orientation Ethnicity

32 Female 2012 1.5 years Psychodynamic White British 40 Female 2013 3 years

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Integrative White Danish 34 Female 2004 2 years Cognitive Behaviour Therapy White British

54 Female 2011 3 years

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Integrative White British 49 Male 2010 3 years Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Integrative

White British

47 Female 2006 8 years Integrative White British

31 Female 2012 1 year

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Integrative

White Scandinavian 28 Female 2012 1 year Cognitive Behaviour Therapy White British

72 2.5.5 Introducing the Participants

The pa ti ipa ts pseudo s e e assig ed a do l usi g a es f o A to H e.g. st pa ti ipa t to e i te ie ed as assig ed a a do a e egi i g ith A , d pa ti ipa t to be interviewed was assigned a random na e egi i g ith B et . . I ill outli e elo some information given to me by participants to help to place them into context.

Amy

I met with Amy in her home. She told me that she had just returned from attending a yoga class to help with pain she was experiencing in her back. Amy informed me that she had been practising mindfulness in her personal life for three years and that she had been using it in he p ofessio al p a ti e fo a ea a d a half. “he told e that she as ot a egula practitioner of fo al i dful ess p a ti e he self . A said that she had go e th ough ph ases of p a ti i g fo al p a ti e egula l , a d that u e tl , she used i fo al p a ti e o a dail asis. “he also told e that she did ot sit do a d editate, i y day to da life at the o e t , although she also said, I ha e go e th ough pe iods of it . A informed me that she enjoys cycling and walking on her own and with her partner and that the time spent doi g these a ti ities as e spe ial to he . “he said that although she does ot i dfull alk i te s of he ph si al self , she is al a s looki g a ou d, s elli g a d oti i g . “he also said that she e gaged i a oga practice and that during this time, she is mindful about bodily sensations including any pain she may be in.

Beth

I met with Beth in her home. As she was heavily pregnant, we agreed that this was the most convenient and suitable place to meet. She informed me that she had been using mindfulness in her professional practice for three years. She also told me that she had only recently (six months) started using it in her personal life and that she is attending a local meditation centre a d as fi di g it i te esti g . Beth told e that du i g he editatio lass, the g oup discussed the difference between mindfulness and meditation. She said that at times, she could not differentiate between the two as they share similarities. Beth also informed me that during her meditation class she often noticed things in her body and in her mind.

73 Chloe

I met with Chloe at her practice. She told me that she has been using mindfulness in her personal life for three years. She informed me that in the past, she had some body image issues; believing she was fat when in fact she was not. Currently, Chloe is a slim lady. She told me that she used mindfulness to help her with these body images issues, and that because she found it powerful for herself; she became curious about its clinical applications. She also informed me that she has been using mindfulness in her professional practice for two years. Chloe told me that she practiced mindfulness on a daily basis and that it brought a peaceful quality to her life.

Diana

I met with Diana in a room at City University. She told me that she came across mindfulness while she was in training and had been interested in its applications. She informed me that she had gone on various workshops and had been applying mindfulness in her professional practice. Diana said that she had been using mindfulness for three years, although she also said she had a tendency to forget to use it both in her personal and professional life.

Ewan

I met with Ewan in a room at City University. He told me that he has been practising mindfulness in his personal life for over twenty years. He informed me that he was a Buddhist and that he practised both informal and formal mindfulness practice on a daily basis. He said that his i dful ess p a ti e e i hed his life . E a told e that he had ee usi g mindfulness in his clinical practice fo th ee ea s a d is i te ested i the elatio al aspe ts of it.

Felicity

I met with Felicity in a room at City University. She told me she had been practising mindfulness in her personal life for over sixteen years. She informed me that she was a Buddhist and that she practiced both informal and formal mindfulness on a daily basis. Felicity said that i dful ess follo s he e e he e she goes a d that it e a led he to e p ese t in her lived experience. She informed me that she has always used mindfulness in her professional practice; however she officially named it as such in the last eight years.

74 Gabby

I met with Gabby in a room at City University. She told me that she started using mindfulness in her personal life fifteen years ago, to help her with difficulties in her life. She told me that she used to have a formal mindfulness practice; however, she said that she currently uses informal practice on a daily basis. She told me that she feels she no longer needs to have a formal practice as mindfulness is now ingrained in her. She said that she will always go to mindfulness whenever she needs it most. Gabby told me that she has been practising mindfulness in her professional practice for one year.

Holly

I met with Holly in a room at City University. She told me that she first came across mindfulness in her professional practice and has been using it both personally and professionally for one year. She informed me that she feels mindfulness helps her to become aware of herself, including her thoughts and bodily sensations, and that it helps her to acknowledge and sit with uncomfortable feelings. Holly said that she incorporated both a formal and informal practice to her everyday life and that mindfulness is uplifting.