Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a research demonstrated effective treatment for depression, especially for preventing future recurrences of depressive episodes. It is built upon the foundation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and was founded by the cognitive psychologists, Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale. They wrote the now classic text, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression.

When these experts in cognitive therapy first heard about mindfulness they saw a natural fit between the two approaches. To paraphrase, they asked Jon Kabat-Zinn if they could integrate mindfulness to create MBCT. He said, “Sure, now sit down to meditate.” They said, “Oh no, we don’t want to meditate, we just want to use the techniques.” To which, Jon smiled and shook his head. Once they did meditate, they realized that one cannot teach any mindfulness-based intervention without having one’s own practice.

My dharma friends and colleagues Susan Woods and Miv London will be presenting an introductory MBCT training at Kripalu the weekend of 22-24 October. If you are a mental health professional or student interested in this potent approach you I recommend that you check it out and register here. In this workshop, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to begin or deepen your mindfulness practice and this is the core to practicing MBCT.