Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a style of psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy, meditation, and the cultivation of “mindfulness,” a present-oriented, nonjudgmental attitude. Cognitive therapy is based on the idea that thoughts come before moods and that incorrect self-beliefs contribute to negative emotions like depression. MBCT incorporates components of cognitive therapy to help you detect and reassess problematic thought patterns and replace them with more realistic positive ones.
MBCT, like cognitive therapy, is based on the idea that if you have a history of depression and feel upset, you will likely resort to the habitual cognitive processes that started a previous depressive episode.
The effectiveness of MBCT is due to the combination of mindfulness and cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy teaches you to halt habitual thought processes and work through feelings in a healthy way, while mindfulness helps you watch and identify your feelings.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a style of psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy, meditation, and the cultivation of “mindfulness,” a present-oriented, nonjudgmental attitude. Cognitive therapy is based on the idea that thoughts come before moods and that incorrect self-beliefs contribute to negative emotions like depression. MBCT incorporates components of cognitive therapy to help you detect and reassess problematic thought patterns and replace them with more realistic positive ones.
