Presentation made at Thyroid UK 2017 Conference 30th September 2017 by Dr Pat Gwyer CPsychol AFBPsS CSci, Clinical Psychologist on the role of mindfulness and the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model upon wellbeing

1. Mindfulness and the bio-psycho-
social-spiritual model: An
integrated approach to wellbeing
Thyroid UK 2017 Conference
30th September 2017
Dr Pat Gwyer CPsychol AFBPsS CSci
Clinical Psychologist
pat@carpevitatherapies.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpatgwyerphd/

2. Overview
 The bio-psycho-social-spiritual model
 Spirituality
 What you might find if you search for mindfulness and hormonal wellbeing
 What is mindfulness?
 Benefits of mindfulness?
 How to be mindful?
 The “Person/Activity fit”
 Mindfulness and the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model
 Possible next steps
 Questions and discussion
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
2

3. An integrated approach to wellbeing: The
bio-psycho-social-spiritual model
Psychological
Social
Biological
Spiritual
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
3

4. © CarpeVitaTherapies.com
Biological
Treating &/or managing illness or
injury
Maintaining healthy diet, sleep,
routine, hydration, routine &
physical activity
Avoidance of substance misuse
Appropriate use of medication
Social
Connection & closeness to nature,
others & community
Social relationships & social
network
Housing / Employment /
Environmental
Vocation & Education
Hobbies & Sports
Spiritual
Self-understanding / Insight
Wisdom
Compassion & forgiveness
Integrity / Honesty / Humility /
Authenticity
Interconnection to others & the
world
Psychological
Personal qualities & interests
Abilities, Talents & Skills
Aspirations & Desires
Positive Psychological Capital*
Self-regulation skills
Acceptance of past
Engagement with present
Anticipation of future
*Hope, Engagement, Resilience, Optimism,
Effectiveness, Strength application30/09/2017
4

5. Spirituality
 The WHO declared;
 Spirituality is an important dimension of wellbeing, consisting of many
things
 Spiritually affects physical and psychological wellbeing
 Can be part of a religious tradition or as separate from religion
 Shown through our relationship with nature, music, the arts, friends and
family
 In the model, the biological, psychological, social and the spiritual cannot
be separated from the whole. All are equally important to our wellbeing
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
5

6. What you might find if you search for
mindfulness and hormonal wellbeing
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com
I was shocked at how this powerful practice helped heal
my Hashimonto’s
… I discovered an unlikely yet extremely powerful tool that helped me
overcome many of my most uncomfortable chronic symptoms …
… a strict regimen of supplements and pills just to function. I woke up foggy
and puffy, I forgot what it was like to feel “normal.” I thought I might never
feel normal again — until I discovered meditation.
This ancient healing practice changed everything.
https://www.furtherfood.com/meditation-helped-heal-my-thyroid-condition/
30/09/2017
6

7. © CarpeVitaTherapies.com
What is mindfulness?
Benefits of mindfulness?
How to be mindful?
30/09/2017
7

8. © CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
8

9. What is Mindfulness
 Non judgmental, focused attention upon what is happening
 Observing and describing
 Increased awareness and movement away from “mindless”
autopilot
 Many definitions, many ways, no right or wrong way
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
9

10. Benefits of Mindfulness
 Reduced rumination, stress reduction
 Improved wellbeing, insight and psychological awareness
 Improved memory, attention and focus
 Increased cognitive flexibility, problem solving and creativity
 Improved emotional regulation and distress tolerance
 Improved interpersonal relationships
 Improved balance between performance and arousal
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
10

11. Yerkes–Dodson law
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com
Performance on any task is related to the intensity of what we are experiencing (e.g., physiological,
emotional or psychological arousal/intensity).
Evidence shows that when levels of intensity are too low or too high, our performance is impaired,
the inverted U has also been found for the impact of stress hormones upon cognition
Mindfulness can moderate physiological, emotional or psychological arousal/intensity
30/09/2017
11

12. Use mindfulness to
increase physiological,
emotional or
psychological arousal
Use mindfulness to
maintain balance
Use mindfulness to
decrease physiological,
emotional or
psychological arousal
The Yerkes–Dodson law divided into different levels of physiological, emotional or psychological
arousal
Low Medium High
Emotional intensity
30/09/2017© CarpeVitaTherapies.com
12

13. How to be Mindful
 Three types of mindful attention
 Bare attention
 Zoom Lens
 Wide-angle lens
 Get the right “Person/Activity fit”
 No right or wrong way
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
13

14. Bare attention
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com
Notice, Observe, Describe, Let go
30/09/2017
14

15. Zoom lens
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com
Zooming in and focusing on an experience. Like driving a car, all attention on the
activity. Being at one with, “in the zone” or “flow” with the activity
30/09/2017
15

16. Wide angle lens
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com
Zooming out and focusing on the bigger picture (the bio-psycho-social-spiritual), the
whole and the interconnectedness between ourselves and the world
30/09/2017
16

17. “Person/Activity fit”
 The better the “fit” between a person and the activity
the better the outcome will be
 When developing mindfulness practice, find and use an
approach that fits personality, life-style, goals, interests
and personal strengths
 Work with these areas not against them
 The SMARTER Life GROWTH and the Bio-psycho-
social-spiritual are just frameworks to help.
 How to use mindfulness is not written in stone …. make
it your version that works for you!
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
17

18. Possible next steps
 “… what you can do to help yourself. You will meet up with people you
can relate to …” Thyroid UK 2017 Conference
 Person centered, collaboratively created workshops and resources;
 Peer support, for people to share their experience, hope and optimism
 To promote wellbeing through the application of mindfulness within a
bio-psycho-social-spiritual based “recovery approach”
 Educate health care professionals “…to raise awareness of the
importance of thyroid testing for people with mental distress or any
psychiatric diagnosis” Sarah Blogg, Author of www.thyromind.info
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
18

19. Thank you for listening
Questions and discussion
© CarpeVitaTherapies.com 30/09/2017
19