Within CBT a formulation is developed that helps the client to understand how past events and experiences have led to the client developing core beliefs, conditional assumptions, emotions and behaviours. Such experiences impact upon everyday lives and relationships. For each mental health need, a psychological model has been developed and is used to help explore current difficulties. CBT therefore, follows a structure of interventions, which aim to reduce the level of distress through a problem solving approach.

Through a process of collaboration, reflection and experimentation a client is able to develop the skills, that enable them to make the changes necessary for progress to be made. Such skills also help reduce the possibility of relapse following completion of therapy.

What is Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)?

Mindfulness-based cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is specialist area of psychological therapy which bases its foundation on traditional CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) methods with mindfulness techniques and the multi disciplines of Buddhism. The individual can be mentored in the managements of accepting thoughts and feelings without delivering judgement or boxing negative memories of experiences to the back of the mind. The core intentions of MBCT is not necessarily to generate relaxation and happiness but rather to alongside develop a “freedom from the tendency to let ones self be drawn into automatic reactions to thoughts, feelings, and events beyond ones control” which may become negative, stressful or troublesome to recall

The benefits are now proven within PET scans which are pictures of the brain when engaging in the Mindfulness approach. The images have shown significant reduction in the distress levels within certain areas of the brain that processes emotions. MBCT has been recommended as a treatment for depression in the NICE guidelines (UK Institute of Clinical Excellence).

The main benefit of using MBCT techniques is the ability to prioritise learning the self discipline of how to pay attention and concentrate with purpose in mind, in moments which may cause concern without judgment or stress. With our Mindfulness based programs our clients can learn to recognise that holding onto some of these feelings can be ineffective and mentally destructive to one wellbeing. MBCT notices detail and teaches people how to recognise the warning signs of depression, anxiety, stress. People learn to identify, accept and notice their negative automatic thoughts, emotions and sensations. Mindfulness is the ability to sit back and observe our thoughts without judgement, this leading to stress reduction, effective use of anxiety, aid in pain management and overcome depression.

If you would like more information on our Mindfulness based therapy sessions please contact us and find out about how this approach can be a preventative measure rather than a reactive measure to take.