What is a Mindful-Based Cognitive Therapist and how is it different from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
In simple terms, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist is a Mental Health Professional who guides you through ‘talk therapy’ to help you manage issues or day-to-day struggles. CBT teaches us to change destructive thought patterns and might be useful in treating a number of problems like anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.
The Difference Between MBCT And CBT
CBT can be combined with Breathing Meditation and other Mindfulness practices as well. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) combines therapeutic benefits of CBT and Mindfulness; a technique aimed at purposefully focusing your awareness on the present moment while acknowledging your feeling, thoughts, and emotions without judgement.
MBCT is offered by trained MBCT facilitators and therapists to help treat clients with recurring depression, as it has been proven to help prevent relapses.
If you’re thinking of consulting a MBCT therapist, keep in mind that therapy is done in groups that meet weekly for two-hour sessions over the course of 8 weeks. During these classes, you will learn various Breathing Meditation and Mindfulness techniques that will help you change the way you process difficult emotions.
A trained MBCT facilitator or therapist will help you unlock the tools that will give you some measure of composure and ease in your life.
On days when groups do not meet, you will be asked to complete various activities, including meditation, at home. Breathing meditation is effective during MBCT as it allows us to revisit various internal experiences and painful memories with greater acceptance and awareness.
Please be mindful that the therapist is there to help, guide and advise you, but for this therapy to be effective, you’ll need to collaborate with your therapist. Some of the classes or activities you participate in could bring up painful feelings and sensations, but this is all a part of the process.
If you feel like you or a loved one could benefit from MCBT, get in touch with Janet Haughton Quarshie of Atha Jiva to learn more.
