Effects of pre-session centering for therapists on session presence and effectiveness

The present study tested whether engaging in a mindfulness centering exercise 5 minutes before a session could have a positive impact on therapy, in particular on the therapists' ability to remain present in session and on session outcomes. Results indicated that therapists perceived themselves as being more present in session when they prepared for their sessions by engaging in a mindfulness centering exercises (d=.45), while clients perceived their therapists as being highly present regardless of whether their therapist completed the mindfulness centering exercise. Clients did, however, perceive the sessions as being more effective when their therapists engaged in the mindfulness centering exercise prior to the start of the session (d=.52).