Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Case Study

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Mindfulness is one of the cognitive behavioral psychotherapies to evolve in what is known as the third-wave therapies. The first-wave began during the strict behavioral therapy of Watson and Skinner (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014). Tolman’s recognition of the organism as part of stimulus-response was a step towards cognitive behavioral therapies. The second-wave is contemporary cognitive therapy. Now the third-wave is gaining ground and consists of therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness. Mindfulness, along with the other third-wave therapies, has been influenced by the philosophies, science, and practices of both the East and the West. This wave of therapy does not …show more content…

In fact, Buddhists live their whole lives based upon mindfulness principles and yet a therapist may choose to use a mindfulness technique to assist a patient with a specific problem. What is not debatable is the success that mindfulness has had with patients specifically with patients suffering from depression. Studies have indicated that only one-third of patients who use Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), one of the many types of mindfulness therapy, will relapse into depression versus two-thirds of patients who have not completed MBCT (Kuyken, Byford, Taylor, Watkins, Holden, White, Barrett, Byng, Evans, Mullan, &Teasdale, 2008). The flexibility of mindfulness therapies allows it to be used in one-on-one sessions and group sessions and to be taught in workshops and classes. There are even many online tools to enable a person to learn aspects of mindfulness such as meditation …show more content…

Depression relapse rates for persons who do not receive treatment are reported to be 80% (Kuyken et al, 2008). While persons who experience three or more depressive episodes are stated to have a relapse rate of 90% even if they have received treatment (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014). Many people may do well while they are taking anti-depressant medications, but often they do not want to continue to take the medication for a long duration. When they stop, their risk for relapse