Papers by Dr William Van Gordon
Chapman, C. & Van Gordon, W. (2018). Effects of a brief online mindfulness intervention on mindfu... more Chapman, C. & Van Gordon, W. (2018). Effects of a brief online mindfulness intervention on mindfulness, psychological distress and parenting stress in preschool parents. Mindfulness and Compassion, In Press.
Kotera, Y., Green, P., & Van Gordon, W. (2018). Mental Wellbeing of Caring Profession Students: R... more Kotera, Y., Green, P., & Van Gordon, W. (2018). Mental Wellbeing of Caring Profession Students: Relationship with Caregiver Identity, Self-Compassion, and Intrinsic Motivation. Mindfulness and Compassion, In Press.
Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Dunn, T., Sheffield, D., Garcia-Campayo, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018... more Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Dunn, T., Sheffield, D., Garcia-Campayo, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018). Meditation-induced near-death experiences: A three-year prospective study. Mindfulness, Advance Online Publication, DOI:10.1007/s12671-018-0922-3
Navarro-Gil, M., Lopez-del-Hoyo, Y., Modrego-Alarcón, M., Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Montero-Mar... more Navarro-Gil, M., Lopez-del-Hoyo, Y., Modrego-Alarcón, M., Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., Montero-Marin, J., & Garcia-Campayo, J. (2018). Effects of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) on self-compassion and attachment style in healthy people. Mindfulness, Advance Online Publication, DOI: 10.1007/s12671-018-0896-1.
The primary purposes of this study were to (i) assess levels of different types of work motivatio... more The primary purposes of this study were to (i) assess levels of different types of work motivation in a sample of UK hospitality workers and make a cross-cultural comparison with Chinese counterparts and (ii) identify how work motivation and shame-based attitudes towards mental health explain the variance in mental health problems in UK hospitality workers. One hundred three UK hospitality workers completed self-report measures, and correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify significant relationships. Findings demonstrate that internal and external motivation levels were higher in UK versus Chinese hospitality workers. Furthermore, external motivation was more significantly associated with shame and mental health problems compared to internal motivation. Motivation accounted for 34-50% of mental health problems. This is the first study to explore the relationship between motivation, shame, and mental health in UK hospitality workers. Findings suggest that augmenting internal motivation may be a novel means of addressing mental health problems in this worker population.
Montero-Marín, J., Navarro-Gil, M., Puebla, M., Luciana, J. V., Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., & García-Campayo, J. (2017). Efficacy of ‘Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy’ in the treatment of fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8, 307, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00307.
Kotera, Y., Adhikari, P., & Van Gordon, W. (2017). The relationship between work motivation and w... more Kotera, Y., Adhikari, P., & Van Gordon, W. (2017). The relationship between work motivation and worker profile in UK hospitality workers. International Journal of Education, Psychology and Counseling, 2, 231-243.
Objective: There is a growing interest in evaluating the effectiveness of compassion intervention... more Objective: There is a growing interest in evaluating the effectiveness of compassion interventions for treating psychological disorders. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of " attachment-based compassion therapy " (ABCT) in the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM), and the role of psychological flexibility as a mediator of improvements. Methods: A total of 42 patients with FM were randomly assigned to ABCT or relaxation (active control group). Both the intervention and control condition were combined with treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome was functional status (FIQ), and the secondary outcomes were clinical severity (CGI-S), pain catastrophizing (PCS), anxiety (HADS-A), depression (HADS-D), quality of life (EQ-5D), and psychological flexibility (AAQ-II). Differences between the groups were estimated using mixed-effects models, and mediation assessments were conducted using path analyses. results: The ABCT group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the relaxation group, including better FIQ values after treatment (B = −3.01; p = 0.003). Differences in FIQ were maintained at 3-month follow-up (B = −3.33; p = 0.001). The absolute risk reduction in ABCT compared to relaxation increased by 40.0%, with an NNT = 3 based on criteria of ≥50% FIQ reduction after treatment. Psychological flexibility had a significant mediating effect on improvements. conclusion: These results suggest that ABCT combined with TAU appears to be effective in the treatment of FM symptoms. clinical Trial registration: http://ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02454244.
Interconnectedness has become an established term in the meditation literature. It implies that a... more Interconnectedness has become an established term in the meditation literature. It implies that any given phenomenon is connected to all other phenomena. Perhaps the best way of appreciating how the principle of interconnectedness relates to our lives as human beings is through our connection with nature. When we breathe in, we breathe in the out-breath of plants, shrubs, and trees. When we breathe out, we breathe out the in-breath of flowers, animals, and birds. When we drink water, we drink the clouds, rivers, and oceans. When we eat a meal, we eat plants, vegetables, and fruits that have grown out of the earth. The notion that we exist interdependently and are connected to nature and all other phenomena is a beautiful idea. However, we would argue that it falls short of capturing the full depth and intimacy of our relationship with nature and the other phenomena that we share the universe with. The reason for this is that while the notion of interconnectedness helps to depict the symbiotic relationship that exists between humans and nature, it implies that one discrete and separately existing entity (e.g., a human being) is connected to another discrete and separately existing entity (e.g., nature). In other words, implicit within the meaning of the term interconnectedness is the assumption that while closely interrelated, phenomena are also separate from one another. From a relative standpoint, it is both possible and necessary to distinguish humans from nature and one phenomenon from another. However, because it is not possible to identify the Bself^ of a given phenomenon, there truly cannot exist a separation between one thing and another thing. This is because as soon as we attempt to identify the origins or self of something , we inevitably have to direct our search outwards to acknowledge the presence of other phenomena. In other words, while searching for the self of something, we find everything else that exists except the inherently existing self that was the original target of our investigation. An effective search for self will always yield the truth that in one thing exists all things yet in no thing does there intrinsically exist anything. We interexist with nature (and all other phenomena) to the extent that it is impossible to assign boundaries. Our minds and bodies are embedded within the natural world such that when we breathe in, nature breathes in with us, and when we breathe out, nature also breathes out. We are of the nature of nature; it exists in us and we exist in it. In this paper, we explore our connection with nature and focus on how nature can be used to enhance mindfulness practice, foster wellbeing, and cultivate insight into the self, reality, and the present moment more generally.
Van Gordon, W., & Shonin, E. (2017). Mindfulness: The art of being human. Mindfulness, Advanced O... more Van Gordon, W., & Shonin, E. (2017). Mindfulness: The art of being human. Mindfulness, Advanced Online Edition, DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0819-6.
Loving-kindness and compassion meditation in psychotherapy. Thresholds: Quarterly Journal of the ... more Loving-kindness and compassion meditation in psychotherapy. Thresholds: Quarterly Journal of the Association for Pastoral and Spiritual Care and Counselling (A Journal of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), Spring Issue, 9-12.
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Papers by Dr William Van Gordon
A world-honoured one whose many names include Shakyamuni Buddha, from the limitless expanse of the deathless realm, with divine tongue (using words beyond sound), did spontaneously converse with the world-honoured one whose many names include Jesus Christ. The two beings of unsurpassable omniscience, simultaneously decided to take human form and walk again in the realm known as earth.
I care not who you are, but I care deeply how you are.
If you are happy – truly happy – then so am I.
Do you know who I am?
Not forgetting about death means to remember that all phenomena are impermanent. All things are in a constant state of flux. Moment by moment all things change. We were born, we live, and we will die. Absolutely nothing escapes the cycle of impermanence.
A world-honoured one whose many names include Shakyamuni Buddha, from the limitless expanse of the deathless realm, with divine tongue (using words beyond sound), did spontaneously converse with the world-honoured one whose many names include Jesus Christ. The two beings of unsurpassable omniscience, simultaneously decided to take human form and walk again in the realm known as earth.
When correctly practiced, meditation can improve physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing.