"This book combines rigorous psychological science, profound clinical wisdom, and a deep understanding of MBCT to provide a creative new perspective on OCD. It will be of great benefit both to those who suffer from this disorder and those who work with them to alleviate their suffering."--Ruth A. Baer, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky "This groundbreaking book promises to change how we understand and treat OCD. Written with a rare balance of clarity, detail, and depth, it offers a multifaceted program for treating what is so often an intractable disorder. Didonna’s penetrating clinical understanding, mastery of the research literature, and personal experience with mindfulness shine through on every page. The book is replete with practical techniques and vivid case illustrations. This is a 'must read' for any clinician, student, or researcher who wants to help those suffering with OCD or to understand more broadly how mindfulness practices can help alleviate psychological distress."--Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance "Truly an outstanding contribution. A world leader in mindfulness-based clinical practice, Didonna draws on many years of experience to present his combined CBT and mindfulness approach. This book offers compassionate insight into the pain of OCD and its destructive effects on individuals and their families. It includes extraordinarily detailed and well-worked-out treatment plans. Presented is a session-by-session program that enables the therapist to gently and skillfully structure interventions. Illuminating case material includes client–therapist dialogues. This is a book I will return to again and again. It is a gift for any clinician working with these painful and frightening mental states, and is sure to become a classic."--Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom "Didonna is a true pioneer in mindfulness and the treatment of anxiety and OCD. This book will revolutionize our approach to OCD. Didonna shows how to empower clients with the self-compassion and courage they need to face their fears. This book has my highest recommendation."--Dennis Tirch, PhD, Founding Director, The Center for Compassion Focused Therapy, New York City "Didonna not only comes up with new insights about OCD itself, but in his 11-session program he develops MBCT in new directions.…If the science and practice of MBCT is to progress, it needs the careful combination of clinical wisdom and scientific rigor that this book represents. It is the first manual for the application of MBCT to OCD, and provides not only the foundation for further research but also the essential roadmap that clinicians will need for understanding and helping those many people who suffer in this way."--from the Foreword by Mark Williams, DPhil, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), defined as intrusive thoughts and repetitive mental or physical acts, affects millions of people around the world. This book combines mindfulness practices with traditional cognitive therapy to address this disorder with a step-by-step approach for 11 group sessions. It includes client handouts and an accompanying website with reproducible materials and audio recordings of exercises.
Purpose: This book "presents the first treatment program that adapts the proven practices of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to meet the unique needs of people struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)." The website adds value with its reproducible materials and audio recordings of guided practices.
Audience: The intended audience is mental health professionals. The author, a professor at University of Barcelona, is founder and president of the Italian Institute for Mindfulness.
Features: The introduction notes that mindfulness practices have been shown to be beneficial for patients with OCD. Part I on theoretical issues notes that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has used exposure and response prevention, but the dropout rate is rather high, and clients are not always treatment compliant. Adding a mindfulness-based approach resulted in a better outcome. These practices helped lead to a decrease of OCD cognitive biases. The program is highly structured, and instructors should attend a formal training program. Exclusionary criteria include clients who are intoxicated, psychotic, manic, excessively critical, or unmotivated. Part II describes the MBCT program. Session one introduces the course to group members. Session two demonstrates how mindfulness can help decrease OCD symptoms. Session three reveals how family members and friends can support clients. Sessions four and five explore trust and mistrust. Session six focuses on healthy relationships. Session seven examines the acceptance process. Session eight explains mindful exposure, a foundational practice in this program. Session nine describes self-forgiveness and self-compassion. Session ten challenges clients to take risks. This program ends with a short mindfulness retreat. An appendix covers about training and supervision issues. The book is easy to read and contains figures, boxes, forms, and handouts.
Assessment: This excellent treatment manual uses a step-by-step approach, with specific instructions for each session. Practitioners have online access to reproducible scripts of the mindfulness exercises and 79 client handouts. Clients can review audio files and scripts at the website as well. This book provides clinicians with another therapeutic tool to help clients.
