Abstract
Teaching a school-based mindfulness program has been the biggest initiative I have undertaken in my few years living and working as a Learning Support Specialist and School Counselor in Abu Dhabi. Promoting wellness in children is also my passion! This chapter discusses a pilot study that I conducted in a school setting in Abu Dhabi and the perceived effect it had on the participants. Since school counseling is a new profession in the UAE, an overview of it will also be discussed to provide a context in which the study was carried out.
Mindfulness develops an “inner compass”—a true lifetime skill that is highly preventive. Understanding one’s own thoughts and feelings can save massive future expenditures to address juvenile delinquency, poor academic performance, stress, mental disorders, etc. … In addition, having a mind that is calm, focused, and empathetic allows children to increase their scholastic aptitude, particularly if they experience a high degree of stress outside of school.
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© 2015 Carmen Barrack
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Barrack, C. (2015). School Psychology in the UAE: A Mindfulness-Based Intervention Explored. In: Al-Karam, C.Y., Haque, A. (eds) Mental Health and Psychological Practice in the United Arab Emirates. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137558237_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137558237_20
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
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