Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Theory Paper

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was initially conceived as an intervention for relapse prevention in people with recurrent depression. MBCT is a skills-based group developed to find cost-effective psychological approach to specifically limit the relapse/recurrence of depression. It combines elements of cognitive theory and the practice of mindfulness mediation in a program that emphasizes the internal process of depression-related setbacks. At the time of Segal, Williams and Teasdale research cognitive theory adopted the belief that negative thoughts and attitudes that were developed early on in a persons’development led to a persistent and harmful negative point of view and their perception of the world increased their vulnerability

As a result when automatic cognitive process were activated people are more prone to becoming vulnerable to developing well-established maladaptive patterns of negative thoughts, memories and attitudes; leading to the consumption of all their cognitive resources and leaving little room for positive affirming thoughts (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2013). A review of CT supported previous hypothesis that it is effective in preventing relapse because at its core it: decentralizes individuals from their thoughts, allowing them to develop different ways of being with their thoughts (Segal, Williams, Teasdale, 2013). These beliefs lead this group on a journey that would include mindfulness and CT to help those during

Mindfulness provided these individuals different ways at living with their pain and the stress their physical illness brought into their lives. After careful observations of Jon Kabat-Zin Segal, Williams, & Teasdale believed, that mindfulness training could be used along with CT to create a relapse protocol for depression. MBCT is a group based treatment for recurrent depression in which participants learn how to develop an abiding nonjudgmental awareness to their experiences internally and externally (Segal, Williams & Teasdale, 2013). MBCT focuses on helping clients learn new ways to adapt to a new way of being and relating to their thoughts and feelings, while placing little emphasis on altering or challenging specific cognitions (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2013). For example, the mindfulness practices allows for someone to sit with their breath and focus on just their breath and as distraction occur a person brings awareness and accepts to this occurrence but then redirects themselves to the breath. This occurs many times, whenever a person has noticed the mind has wandered to bring themselves back to the breath (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2013). Regular awareness practices allows for individuals to centralize from thoughts so they are not vulnerable to reactivity or futile attempts to try to fix or change their thoughts. It also allows for the habit of bringing mindfulness