Ruth Baer

Research Interests:
Mindfulness
Research

**Dr. Baer is no longer accepting new graduate students

Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention that originates in Buddhist meditation practices and has been adapted for use in Western mental health settings.  I conduct research on the assessment and conceptualization of mindfulness, mindfulness-based interventions, psychological effects of mindfulness meditation, mechanisms by which mindfulness training achieves its beneficial effects, and relationships between mindfulness and other aspects of psychological functioning. I am also interested in mindfulness and related aspects of emotional and cognitive functioning in people with borderline personality disorder and borderline traits.

I teach and supervise several mindfulness-based interventions, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). I am interested in relationships between mindfulness skills and more traditional cognitive-behavioral interventions. I also enjoy psychological assessment and supervising students in a variety of assessment procedures.

 

Graduate Training

Ph.D. West Virginia Univ., 1985

Selected Publications:

Authored Book:

  • In the United Kingdom: Baer, R. A. (in press). Practising Happiness: How Mindfulness Can Free You From Psychological Traps and Help You Build the Life You Want (London, UK: Constable and Robinson

  • In the US: Baer, R. A (in press). The Practicing Happiness Workbook: How Mindfulness Can Free You from the Four Psychological Traps that Keep You Stressed, Anxious, and Depressed (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger)

Edited Books:

  • Baer, R. A. (Ed.) (in press). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: A clinician's guide (2nd ed.) Elsevier.
  • Baer, R. A. (Ed.) (2010). Assessing Mindfulness and acceptance processes in clients: Illuminating the theory and practice of change. New Harbinger.
  • Baer, R. A. (Ed.) (2006). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: A clinician's guide. Elsevier.

Papers and chapters: Mindfulness

  • Baer, R. A. (2003).  Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention:  A conceptual and empirical review.  Clinical Psychology:  Science and Practice, 10, 125-143.
  • Baer, R. A., Smith G. T., Allen, K. B. (2004).  Assessment of mindfulness by self-report: The Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills.  Assessment, 11, 191-206.
  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., Toney, L. (2006).  Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness.  Assessment, 13, 27-45.

  • Carmody, J. & Baer, R. A. (2008). Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms, and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31, 23-33.

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., et al. (2008). Construct validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment, 15, 329-342.

  • Carmody, J., & Baer, R. A. (2009). How long does a mindfulness-based stress reduction program need to be? A breif review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 627-638.

  • Baer, R. A. (2011). Measuring mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 12, 241-261.

  • Lykins, E., Baer, R. A., & Gottlob, L. R. (2012). Performance-based tests of attention and memory in long-term mindfulness meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36, 103-114.

  • Baer, R. A., Lykins, E. L. B., & Peters, J. R. (2012). Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators. Journal of Positive Psychology, 7, 230-238.
  • Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., Peters, J. R., & Baer, R. A. (2014). Using mindfulness effectively in clinical practice: Two case studies (pp. 173-192). In Wedding, D. (Ed.), Case Studies in Psychotherapy. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Papers and Chapters: Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Sauer, S. E. & Baer, R. A. (in press). Ruminative and mindful self-focused attention in borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment.

  • Sauer, S. E. & Baer, R. A. (2010). Validation of measures of biosocial precursors to borderline personality disorder: Childhood emotional vulnerability and environmental invalidation. Assessment, 17, 454-466.

  • Baer, R. A., Peters, J. R., Eisenlohr-Moul, T., Geiger, P., & Sauer, S. (2012). Emotion-related cognitive processes in borderline personality disorder: A review of the empirical literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 32, 359-369.