Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Denver, CO

"Follow your heart but take your brain with you." - Alfred Adler-

Do you struggle with recurring depression, or relapses into negative thoughts and patterns? Do you want to learn new ways to manage stress, anxiety, and depression? Have traditional forms of therapy been ineffective for you? Turn to Heart Bloom Therapy, serving individuals in Denver, Colorado, for our Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) service.

What Is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy?

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that combines principles of cognitive therapy with mindfulness practices. It was originally developed to help individuals who suffer from recurring episodes of depression. However, its benefits have expanded to a wider range of mental health concerns, such as anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation.

What Does Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Entail?

MBCT can be delivered in group settings or in individual therapy and is time-limited, typically lasting eight weeks. Techniques used in this form of therapy help individuals recognize unhelpful thought patterns, increase self-compassion, and develop a more present-focused and accepting mindset. This includes with:

· Psychoeducation about mood and anxiety

· Meditation

· Body scan exercises

· Mindfulness practices

· Mindful stretching

· Gentle yoga

· 3-minute breathing space

How Was Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Developed?

MBCT grew out of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which was developed by Jon Kabat-Zin as an eight-week program that empowered patients with chronic pain, hypertension, and heart disease, as well as with psychological problems such as anxiety.

Psychologists Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale, sought to build upon Cognitive Therapy for depression using mindfulness techniques from MBSR. Research has since shown that MBCT is especially effective for patients who have suffered repeated bouts of depression in their lives. However, it is also used for other issues such as anxiety and coping with medical illness.

What’s the Difference Between MBCT and CBT?

There is a fundamental difference between the goals of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

· CBT seeks to help people change their negative thoughts and beliefs by looking for evidence to challenge those thoughts and then reframing the thoughts to become more realistic and positive.

· In MBCT, people learn to accept their thoughts. They become aware of them and their effect on their lives. As a result, the focus is on changing one's relationship to the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations that contribute to recurrent bouts of depression and anxiety issues.

How Can Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Help?

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy offers a powerful set of tools that can help you manage your mental health. It can empower you to increase awareness, reduce negative thought patterns, and promote emotional resilience. As a result, it can be invaluable in healing from:

· Relapses into recurrent depression

· Low moods

· Bipolar depression

· Anxiety

· Substance abuse

· Coping with chronic medical conditions

Ready to Learn More About Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy?

Get one-on-one MBCT from Dr. Pamela Brody, a psychologist and yoga nidra practitioner in the Denver, CO, area. The program is eight weeks and will be tailored to your needs. Reach out and set up a time to talk about how Heart Bloom Therapy can help you reclaim your life with  Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.