ABSTRACT
Curiosity is at the heart of collaborative-dialogic (C-D) practices, shaping both the practitioner's internal thought process and the external conversation. This chapter explores how mindfulness might inform C-D practice. It first provides a history of how to connect these seemingly disparate practices and then outlines the essential elements of mindfulness, highlighting how it relates to C-D practices. Mindfulness as "the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment". This definition includes three key processes, all of which offer fresh insights to help further the understanding of C-D curiosity: intentional focus, moment-by-moment awareness, and non-judgmental observation. Mindfulness practice offers therapists an unparalleled technique for developing a non-judgmental stance to all that is involved in being human. The chapter also explores relational processes in C-D practice and how they compare to mindfulness. It finally describes practical implications of mindfulness for C-D practice, including some brief clinical examples.
