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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or MBCT for short, is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices like meditation and breathing. MBCT teaches people how to avoid negative thought patterns that can often lead to depressive episodes. This treatment takes the form of a group practice that meets weekly for two hours for eight weeks. In the meetings, individuals learn meditative techniques like deep breathing and mindful meditation, and basic cognition principles. They also learn more about their depressive condition, and towards the end of the session, the therapist will assign homework that consists of deep breathing exercises and mindful meditation. This treatment is beneficial for individuals struggling with chronic depression because it teaches them how to avoid the negative thought patterns that often lead to a depressive episode. People with generalized anxiety disorders and addiction can also find MBCT useful.