A brief mindfulness exercise at the beginning of psychotherapy sessions was linked to greater symptom improvement and a stronger therapeutic alliance among adolescents, although relaxation exercises produced similar benefits.
A brief mindfulness exercise at the start of psychotherapy sessions may help adolescents with depression, anxiety or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder improve more quickly, according to researchers at Heidelberg University. In a study led by Johannes Mander and Julia Kalmar at the university’s Centre for Psychological Psychotherapy, young patients who began each session with a short mindfulness practice showed a stronger reduction in symptoms than those whose therapy sessions began without a fixed routine. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
The trial involved 90 adolescents aged 11 to 19 receiving outpatient treatment. Over 24 sessions, one group started each appointment with a five- to 10-minute mindfulness exercise, another with a relaxation exercise of similar length, and a third with no standard introduction at all. Mindfulness in this context meant paying deliberate attention to the present moment while observing thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations without judgement.
The researchers found that symptoms eased across all three groups over the course of treatment, but the improvement was greater among those who practised mindfulness before therapy sessions than among those who did not have a structured opening. There was, however, no significant difference between mindfulness and relaxation when it came to symptom reduction, suggesting that a brief preparatory exercise of either kind may add value to routine psychotherapy. The adolescents also reported a better therapeutic alliance, or sense of trust and cooperation with their therapist, in the mindfulness group.
Kalmar said the results show that small, practical interventions can be incorporated easily into outpatient care and may be particularly useful for a vulnerable age group. Mander said the study helps fill a gap in the evidence, because most research on mindfulness has focused on full programmes rather than individual exercises used inside ordinary therapy sessions. The interventions tested included breathing exercises, body scans and mindful walking.
The new paper adds to a growing body of research suggesting that mindfulness can support adolescent mental health in different settings. Recent studies have linked broader school-based or universal mindfulness programmes with improvements in well-being, while other reviews have found benefits for emotion regulation and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms, including modest longer-term effects. Separate research has also suggested that personality traits can influence how well adolescents respond to school-based mindfulness training, underscoring the possibility that one approach may not suit every young person.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
