Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) combines the principles from Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness to help people understand themselves better and manage their feelings, thoughts
and emotions. It was developed by Segal, Williams and Teasdale by building upon the model of Cognitive Therapy. It draws largely from Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-based stress reduction modality model.

MBCT is a relatively new therapy as the first clinical trial of MBCT was published in the year 2000. In MBCT, clients are taught how to use mindfulness meditation and principles of Cognitive Therapy to consciously pay attention to their thought process, feelings, actions and emotions to separate themselves from the negative thoughts by practicing mindfulness techniques like meditation, body scan exercise, mindfulness, stretching, yoga, breathing exercises and allied to become more aware of the present moment. It helps to disconnect from one’s thoughts, feelings and emotions and in becoming free from the vicious cycle of negative thoughts. When people can learn to separate themselves from emotions, they can also learn how to use positive thoughts to diffuse the negative thought pattern.

It can be helpful with various issues: