| All human behavior involves the use of an energy resource. Ego depletion describes the state of when this resource is reduced, leaving less energy to pursue further behaviors and abilities. One ability, the capacity to maintain empathy, is important for therapists as empathy is a potent contributor to building a strong therapeutic relationship with clients. However, similar to other behaviors and abilities, empathy is vulnerable to ego depletion as well. Continuous ego depletion can be related to burnout, which is a state of exhaustion often found among therapist trainees (Christopher, Christopher, Dunnagan, & Schure, 2006; Kuyken, Peters, Power, Lavender, & Rabe-Hesketh, 2000; Lee, Cho, Kissinger, & Ogle, 2010; Leiter & Harvie, 1996). The subsequent negative effects of trainees' burnout on their clients is important to prevent as they impact the therapeutic relationship, and ultimately the client's treatment overall. Mindfulness is one modality to prevent and counteract burnout via its self-care related benefits (Christopher, Christopher, Dunnagan, & Schure, 2006; Christopher & Maris, 2010; Shapiro, Brown, & Biegel, 2007). The present study surveyed 45 clinical PsyD students at a Midwestern graduate school regarding their levels of burnout, mindfulness, and capacity for empathy. Three relationships were hypothesized: (1) Mindfulness would positively correlate with trainees' empathy, (2) Mindfulness would negatively correlate with trainees' ego depletion/burnout, and (3) Mindfulness would positively correlate with trainees' capacity to maintain empathy when stressed. Hypotheses (1) and (3) were not supported, but hypothesis (3) demonstrated to correlate in the predicted direction. Hypotheses (2) was supported suggesting that regular mindfulness meditation practice could benefit therapist trainees with regard to counteracting the effects of ego depletion/burnout and indicates the potential advantages of incorporating education and training on mindfulness into clinical psychology programs' curricula. |
