ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a summary of various areas which are integral to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and have informed its development: mindfulness meditation practice, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for depression. MBSR was originally taught to groups of participants with a range of physical and psychological challenges, and has now also been adapted to a variety of specific diagnoses and conditions. Kabat-Zinn pioneered the adaptation of meditation practices from their original Buddhist context into an accessible psycho-educational eight-session programme. Mindfulness practices in various forms are found in all contemplative wisdom traditions. Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges when we pay attention to experience in particular ways: on purpose; in the present moment; and non-judgementally. Mindfulness was thus embedded within a group-based educational programme, and integrated with models of stress from mind-body medicine, and explorations on working with the challenges of modern living.
