Cultivating Therapeutic Presence: A Pilot Project

Area of Science:

• Integrative healthcare
• Occupational health psychology
• Mindfulness-based interventions

Background:

• Holistic healthcare workers experienced high perceived stress, particularly during the COVID pandemic.
• The need for effective stress reduction strategies in healthcare settings is critical.
• Existing interventions may not fully address the unique stressors faced by integrative health professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a program aimed at reducing perceived stress among holistic healthcare workers.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of integrating mindfulness-based interventions and self-care techniques.
• To assess the sustainability of stress reduction effects over time.

Main Methods:

• A pilot project incorporating mindfulness-based interventions, self-care strategies, and peer support was implemented.
• The intervention was delivered to integrative health care workers at a children's hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Perceived stress was measured, and follow-up surveys assessed long-term effects.

Main Results:

• A significant large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.963) indicated a substantial decrease in perceived stress.
• Participants reported sustained benefits, including increased confidence and improved self-care practices.
• Follow-up data collected five months post-intervention confirmed persistent positive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Integrating mindfulness, self-care, and social support effectively reduces perceived stress in holistic healthcare workers.
• The positive impact on stress levels is durable, offering long-term benefits for healthcare professionals.
• This approach provides a valuable model for supporting the well-being of frontline healthcare providers.