Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a brief type of therapy treatment that was originally developed for individuals with negative thinking patterns. MBCT teaches mindfulness skills to help individuals gain awareness and be able to observe experiences without judgement. It also employs aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) such as learning about the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is this combination of cognitive theory and mindfulness that makes MBCT so effective. 


During MBCT, individuals learn specific skills to develop awareness of their thinking patterns and learn to respond to them differently. These skills could include focusing on your breath, noticing thoughts mindfully, and noticing physical sensations in your body. The goal of MBCT is to reduce reactivity to experiences, making individuals less likely to get caught up in negative thinking. The focus is not on changing the content of your thoughts but on changing how we relate to our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Benefits of MBCT can include increased self-awareness , self-compassion, and decreased emotional reactivity. 

Who can benefit from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)?

MBCT has been found to be an effective treatment for individuals with depression as it can help individuals learn how to better cope with negative thoughts. Recently, MBCT has also been found to be helpful for anxiety, chronic pain, stress, and other mood disorders. 

To learn more about mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and how it might be helpful for you, contact us.