What is mindfulness?
“Paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally, to the unfolding of experience moment-to-moment.”
– John Kabat-Zinn
What is mindfulness based psychotherapy?
- Mindfulness has been used in many therapy programs including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR)
- In therapy, mindfulness meditation can be used to decrease attachment to thoughts allowing for greater flexibility and change.
- Mindfulness allows individuals to notice when automatic thoughts are occurring and provides a greater ability to observe and make new choices, rather than react automatically.
- By developing nonjudgmental attention through mindfulness practice, individuals become more adept at tolerating distress and making wise decisions in difficult situations.
- Mindfulness can help individuals gain greater clarity about their most important values so that they can make meaningful life choices.
How can mindfulness based psychotherapy help?
- Reduce stress
- Reduce repetitive negative thoughts, anxiety, and depressive symptoms
- Reduce emotional reactivity
- Boost working memory and increase mental focus
- Increase cognitive flexibility
- Improve communication and relationship satisfaction
- Reduce pain symptoms
