Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor in Psychology (Psy. D.)
Abstract
Burnout has long been a significant occupational hazard for mental health professionals. Despite the increasing recognition of its prevalence and impact, many graduate programs fail to adequately address self-care strategies. Mindfulness, a practice of focused attention, has emerged as a promising approach to prevent and mitigate burnout. This paper reviews the literature on burnout and its effects on mental health professionals. Next, the paper will provide an overview of mindfulness, mindfulness-based interventions, and benefits of mindfulness. It argues for the integration of mindfulness training into graduate programs to equip students with essential self-care skills early in their careers. The paper introduces “The Mindful Grad,” a four-week mindfulness-based intervention designed to support graduate students’ well-being and enhance their professional practice.
Faculty Mentor
Jerry Palmer, PhD
Department Affiliation
Psychology
Committee Member
Theresa Botts, PhD
Department Affiliation
Psychology
Committee Member
Michael McClellan, PhD
Department Affiliation
Psychology
Copyright
2025 Joseph Dickhaus
Recommended Citation
Dickhaus, Joseph, "Building a Burnout-Resistant Workforce: the Benefits of Mindfulness for Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students" (2025). Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects. 52.
https://encompass.eku.edu/psych_doctorals/52
