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The Stages of Insight: Clinical Relevance for Mindfulness-Based Interventions

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Abstract

The increased demand for and proliferation of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) within clinical treatment programs underscores the need for MBI clinicians to better understand the Buddhist psychological and theoretical underpinnings of such treatments. Of particular importance is familiarity with the stages of insight, the predictable developmental sequence of the Theravada Buddhist practices from which MBIs derive their core curricular components. This paper outlines the primary reasons why MBI clinicians need to be aware of the stages of insight, including: (1) some MBI participants appear to progress through the initial stages of insight, even during a relatively short period of time, such as an 8-week program; (2) knowledgeable clinicians may be better able to recognize the stages of insight and adjust practice instructions to facilitate participants’ navigation of these stages; (3) clinically significant symptoms that may be encountered during progress through the stages of insight need to be recognized by clinicians and appropriately addressed. Modifications to standards for clinician competency are suggested, and areas for future clinical and neurobiological research related to the stages of insight are explored. The risks and ethical issues associated with delivering MBIs in a health care setting, and informed consent regarding potential progress along the stages of insight, are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to express gratitude for the time and caring taken by Steve Armstrong, Willoughby Britton, Jack Kornfield, Mark Lau, and Sean Pritchard for their encouragement and support, as well as for reviewing earlier versions of this manuscript. Any errors or omissions are the sole responsibility of the author.

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The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

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  1. Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Suite 552-600 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6, Canada

    Andrea Grabovac

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Correspondence to Andrea Grabovac.

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Grabovac, A. The Stages of Insight: Clinical Relevance for Mindfulness-Based Interventions. Mindfulness 6, 589–600 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0294-2

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