What can a mindfulness-based cognitive therapist help with?
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy helps a person with their negative thoughts and behaviours, including preventing distressed feelings from escalating to full-blown depression, or guarding against relapse in those who have experienced depression. MBCT is useful for day-to-day concerns such as low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, self-sabotage, feelings of failure, and general unhappiness. This therapy is also effective for common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, and many others.
Who can practice mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?
Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and other licensed mental health clinicians can practice mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Therapists who wish to apply or incorporate these techniques into their sessions can seek specific training and certification. Mindfulness-based therapists may be found in private practice, institutions, or health clinics.What conditions are best treated with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is helpful for many mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sleep disorders, and alcohol and substance use disorders, among other difficulties. In MBCT, a person recognises and accepts negative thoughts and difficult emotions, whereas cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on challenging negative emotions via internal disputation or logic. This therapy is typically short-term and focused.How can I recognise a good mindfulness-based cognitive therapist?
The individual should inquire whether a therapist has completed additional training and certification in mindfulness-based cognitive behaviour techniques. Also, inquire whether the therapist has handled concerns that are similar to what the individual is experiencing. A good MBCT therapist will be able to describe a typical course of therapy and offer a plan of treatment. In addition, it’s most important that the individual feels comfortable communicating openly with the therapist.