Using acceptance and mindfulness-based workshops with support staff caring for adults with intellectual disabilities

Support staff in intellectual disability services may experience significant work-related stress. This stress has been shown to be associated with avoidance processes, and theoretical models of aspects of support staff behavior have also implicated escape and avoidance processes. In the present paper, we review the case for the match between acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches and the work experiences of support staff. We also report data from 34 support staff who received the Promotion of Acceptance in Carers and Teachers (PACT) intervention. Staff reported less psychological distress post-PACT even though the perceived level of stress in the work environment did not reduce. Positive change was greatest for those staff without a professional qualification and who were reporting more stress at pre-intervention. Combined with other published data, these results suggest that support staff in intellectual disability settings may benefit from acceptance and mindfulness-based interventions.