Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Mindfulness is a discipline that trains a person to be aware of the present moment and his or her place in that moment. It has a focus on the awareness which processes the mental and emotional responses of that person's consciousness. Mindfulness is often associated with Buddhist meditation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that undertakes to change behaviour by understanding and modifying the thinking behind that particular behaviour.
What happens when Mindfulness is combined with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to form a new form of psychotherapy called Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MB-CBT)?
Actually I was not surprised at this merger because Buddhism recently has become very closely involved with neuroscience.
I find this article interesting
The ‘third wave’ of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – Can it be integrated into a Christian context?
By Sarah Plum and Paul Hebblethwaite
The aim of the article is to look at the possibility using Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy as a tool for treating depression and some forms of anxiety and how this may be compatible with Biblical teaching. We appreciate that some individuals may find this technique not compatible with their Christian faith, but we are not asking or expecting individuals to change their fundamental Christian beliefs or to participate in any practice that would contradict their faith but rather to look at how this tool can be used for the benefit of their clients. This article should be useful even to those that could not embrace this technique as it will at least give some useful insight.
read more
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Labels: Buddhism, Counseling, Critical Thinking, Learning
posted by Alex Tang at 4:05 PM
3 Comments:
Hmm...I find this very interesting as well. Will get the article you linked and read it later :)
Mindfulness is connected with Buddhism, being in the Eightfold Path. Can it be divorced from Buddhism and independently be something can a Christian can pursue? I suppose we can...it is after all meditation but meditation in the Christian belief is invariably so different from the Buddhist meditation. How can the discussion of MB-CBT be clear on this count?
Hi Pearlie,
Mindfulness as a spiritual discipline is not the sole domain of Buddhist spirituality. Most of the spiritual traditions have mindfulness including Christianity.
Mindfulness in the Christian tradition is one of the contemplative disciplines. To be aware of God, one has to be aware of one's surroundings and of oneself.
Yea, you are right - mindfulness do not belong to Buddhism but I suppose with Buddhism being most active in meditation compared to the other religions makes it difficult to own it without being influenced by the Buddhist practice somewhat? I don't know...looking forward to reading the article which I think will shed some light for me. Thanks for posting this :)
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