Mindfulness is a method of becoming more aware of yourself and your environment. You notice your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in a non-judgmental way. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses the practice of mindfulness to promote holistic mental and physical health.
Who Mindfulness Therapy Benefits
Clients with chronic pain, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and other health issues such as anxiety and depression can greatly benefit from practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or MBCT, is a multi-faceted approach that aims to reduce stress, manage pain, and embrace the freedom to choose how to respond to situations.
The Research
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002) was designed as a treatment and has been shown to reduce relapse in recurrently depressed patients (Teasdale et al., 2000).
Seek a Professional
An MBCT therapist is a mental health professional who has thorough training in mindfulness-based methods and techniques and is highly skilled at teaching these techniques to others.
Talk to your primary care doctor about your symptoms; or seek help directly from a mental health professional. If you’re reluctant to see a mental health professional, reach out to someone else who may be able to help guide you to treatment, whether it’s a friend or loved one, a teacher, a faith leader, or someone else you trust.