React or respond: A guide to apply mindfulness for families and therapists

Mindfulness has been described as the ability to pay attention to one's present experience without judgment. This article attempts to integrate the understanding of mindfulness with tools for application for families and therapists. The application of mindfulness can offer families and therapists the opportunity to move from reacting to their experiences to responding, thereby aiding in emotional regulation. Families can create change in thinking and behavior by decreasing the activation of the stress response. Family therapists who are mindful can increase objectivity and are less likely to act upon negative countertransference. This article discusses a fourstep MAC Mindfulness Guide of empathic acknowledgment, intentional attention, nonjudgmental acceptance, and action toward change.