ABSTRACT
Mindfulness-based and acceptance-based approaches to psychological treatment are typically considered part of the “third-wave” of behavior therapy, a recent development in cognitive-behavioral therapy that emphasizes transdiagnostic processes of change rather than diagnosis-specific treatments. This “third-wave” includes acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as well as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and related mindfulness-based interventions tailored for specific problems and populations. Mindfulness-based approaches typically refer to interventions that rely on the use of mindfulness practices as their primary intervention modality. Acceptance-based interventions, by contrast, often make use of mindfulness practice and also target other processes (e.g., values-driven behavior) for fostering behavior change. This chapter distinguishes between mindfulness-based and acceptance-based approaches to cognitive-behavioral therapy and provides clinicians with an introduction to each type of treatment and associated conceptualizations of psychological distress.
