Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been clinically proven to bolster recovery from depression and to prevent relapse.  The 'core' element of MBCT programmes is training participants in mindfulness meditation practices.  Clinical trials have shown that training people in the ‘methods’ of mindfulness meditation has halved the rate of relapse back into depression. As a result, MBCT has been approved by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of recurrent depression.

Mindfulness meditation is not new; it has been around for the past 2,500 years within the Eastern philosophies. However, its application is new within Western psychology, being introduced into the healthcare system only within the last 40 years through Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR) in the USA.  MBCT evolved directly out of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR programme and was introduced into the UK in 2000.

Due to the success of MBCT for depression, MBCT has been developed and applied to many client bases such as anxiety, eating disorders, cancer, heart disease and chronic fatigue, to name a few.  This is a continued and growing area of research interest.  Mindflow is currently engaged in developing mindfulness and compassion training programmes for addictions, attention deficit (ADHD), weight management and early on set dementia.