Mindfulness can do more than serve as a therapeutic technique; it can establish a state of presence that connects to the practice of phenomenology, linking it to a Western intellectual tradition and providing that tradition with a systematic method. This opens the door for psychological investigation of the non-conceptual basis of everyday experience. Combining this theoretical stance with practical mindfulness training for clinical psychologists has broad implications for clinical practice, including descriptive approaches to clinical problems, qualitative research, and reflective practice.
Among people with psychosis, visions most often depict people who behave and appear real, making them indistinguishable from actual perception. In interviews with twelve participants, three key features emerged: the content of visions is typically people; these people act coherently, often speaking or touching the observer; and the visions possess a compelling authenticity. This combination explains why visions are so absorbing and distressing, and the framework of Content, Coherence, and Quality offers clinicians a practical way to explore these experiences.
Hearing voices can challenge a person's sense of self and autonomy, but autonomy is continuously negotiated through reflection, adaptation, and self-regulation. Interviews with six voice hearers revealed three key themes: voices challenged self-authorship, requiring personally meaningful narratives to re-establish autonomy; autonomy and power were shared and negotiated with voices; and voices interfered with perceived competence and decision-making, limiting the ability to navigate life independently. The capacity to integrate experiences and influence change affected how self-determined participants felt. Supporting voice hearers in constructing self-oriented narratives may strengthen their sense of autonomy.