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Meditation and mental health essay
Meditation and health easy
Meditation and mental health essay
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Mindfulness is a concept that over recent year has gained momentum within the field of psychology helping guide and create treatment options for those suffering from mental illness. Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) over recent years has become a widespread form of treatment within the present-day psychotherapy (Hofmann et al, 2010) for addressing well-being in patients who suffer from mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The therapy was derived from ancient eastern meditation, Buddhist and Yoga practices (Hofmann et al; Piet et al, 2011), which is characterized as a certain way of experiencing internal thoughts, feeling, bodily reactions and external stimulus. These traditions foster what is considered to be the mind, body and spirit bond helping practitioners find a sense of self and well-being. …show more content…
One of the central ideas within Buddhism is the damaging properties of negative emotions or thoughts, and the healing that embracing positive emotions can have on a person (Hayes et al, 2004). By acknowledging both the positive and negative side of our exitance Buddhism strives to strike a balance between them forming a mindful state. According to Hofmann et al MBT has been adapted into many different forms of treatment including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to name a few. Schuling (2016) states that MBCT was developed to target and prevent the high rate of relapse, and that it may also be effective in lowering the residual levels of depression. Indicating that by approaching the disorders with a compassionate tone to oneself the anguish prevalent within these conditions can be addressed and
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a method of correcting invalid thought patterns to a more positive view of the person and their place in their world. Some people do not believe that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a real treatment for depression, claiming it is a form of positive thinking ("The Daily Mail," 2009). On the opposite end of the spectrum, others argue that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy should be used in all therapies for depression as it allows the patient to take an active role in their treatment. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the benefit of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a viable treatment of depression, either as a stand-alone therapy or in conjunction with other therapies.
Psychotherapy integration is best explained as an attempt to look beyond and across the dimensions of a single therapy approach, to examine what one can learn from other perspectives, and how one’s client’s can benefit from various ways of administering therapy (Corey, 2013). Research has shown that a variety of treatments are equally effective when administered by therapist who believe in them and client’s that accept them (Corey, 2013). Therefore, one of the best aspects of utilizing an integrative approach is that, in most cases, if a therapist understands how and when to incorporate therapeutic interventions, they usually can’t go wrong. While integrating different approaches can be beneficial for the client, it is also important for the
The third-wave of cognitive behavior therapies include the following: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999); Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993); Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP); and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT). I would also include Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT, Segal, Williams, & Teasdale), which was developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale and based on Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. These third wave psychotherapies have not been without some controversy and have been scrutinized and will continue to be scrutinized. Ost (2008) reviewed many of these therapies and concluded that “the third wave treatment RCTs used a research methodology that was significantly less stringent than CBT studies; that the mean effect size was moderate for both ACT and DBT, and that none of the third wave therapies fulfilled the criteria for empirically supported treatments. The article ends with suggestions on how to improve future RCTs to increase the possibility of them becoming empirically supported treatments. However, Guadiano (2009) cited that there was a mismatch in the samples Ost cited and that Ost’s conclusion was inconclusive. Kahl (2012) concluded the following:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a variant of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is a treatment specifically designed to address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Shou et al. 2017). In this group format, CPT will be used to treat individuals who have experienced PTSD, resulting from police brutality. CPT is typically run in a group setting; this form of treatment can be utilized in individual treatment as well (Monson et al. 2013). CPT captures information utilizing; exercise techniques in order for individuals with PTSD to express their internal emotions regarding their traumatic life event that is stored within the brain. Through this technique, clients can associate intrusive or distressing thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks to
Mindfulness is a concept or practice that was founded nearly 2600 years ago. It is a very integral component of the Buddhist faith and is believed to be associated with many benefits including self-control, tolerance, flexibility, objectivity, concentration, mental clarity, emotional intelligence, kindness, compassion, acceptance, and equanimity.
In it's simplest form, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (or CBT as it will be referred to from here on out), refers to the approach of changing dysfunctional behaviors and thoughts to realistic and healthy ones. CBT encompasses several types of therapy focusing on the impact of an individual's thinking as it relates to expressed behaviors. Such models include rational emotive therapy (RET), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), behavior therapy (BT), Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT), Schema Focused Therapy, Cognitive therapy (CT). Most recently a few other variations have been linked to CBT such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) (Harrington and Pickles, 2009). The main aspect that all of these branches of therapy share, is that our thoughts relate to our external behaviors. External events and individuals do not cause the negative thoughts or feelings, but, instead the perception of events and situations is the root cause (National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, 2010).
For thousands of years people have practiced mediation for spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Albeit there are many mediation types, in this paper I will be discussing and focusing on mindfulness mediation. Before further exploring mindfulness mediation, it is crucial to define mediation as a whole. Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2016 state “Meditation can be defined as a form of mental training that aims to improve an individual’s core psychological capacities, such as attentional and emotional capacities” (p.213). Having that in mind, we can dive into mindfulness mediation. Mindfulness meditation is defined as “nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experiences (Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2016).” A useful analogy to consider is going to the gym, going to the gym allows one to enhance the body, well similarly, practicing mindfulness is akin to taking the mind to the psychic gym, it enhances it. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on your breathing and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present all while dismissing discursive thoughts and maintaining a special focus on breathing.
Last Spring, as part of a senior project, I took Tai Chi classes and researched how meditation is used in mind/body medicine. I read several books by doctors who use meditation as a form of healing, in stress-reduction clinics and as treatment for people suffering from severe pain and panic disorders. One doctor in particular, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches a method he calls mindfulness, in which he has his patients meditate in order to achieve total mind/body awareness. Zinn instructs patients to focus on their pain and to become aware of it. This often helps them realize that they can live with their pain. No pain is too extreme, he says, in the same way that no emotion is a wrong emotion. Awareness is the only absolute, and the only thing that allows people to live in the moment. Not live for the moment, but live in the moment.
Mindfulness is an ideal that has been present for thousands of years (positivepsychologyprogram.com). It has roots in almost every major religion: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and most renown, Buddhism and Hinduism (positivepsychologyprogram.com). Psychology Today defines mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention on the present.” Dr. Shauna Shapiro during a TEDx Talk defines mindfulness as “intentionally paying attention with kindness” (Shapiro, S., 2017). Mindfulness has many principles involved with it, but the short version is to be aware. It is to be aware of the present moment deliberately. Jon Kabat-Zinn, considered the father of the western movement for mindfulness by some, defines mindfulness as, “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally” (Bodhipaksa, 2007). We, as humans, get caught up in the business of life; so, we need to stay oriented to the present. Another way to describe this is “acting with awareness rather than on ‘automatic autopilot’” (Caldwell, et al, 2010). Mindfulness is non-judgmental about life. Mindfulness is to not be over-reactive by what’s going on around us (mindful.org). Mindfulness is being non-reactive to your environment. There are many things that stem from this thinking,
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors (NAMI, 2012). It is designed to modify the individual’s normative dysfunctional thoughts. The basic cognitive technique consists of delineating the individual's specific misconceptions, distortions, and maladaptive assumptions, and of testing their validity and reasonableness (Beck, 1970). By exploring thought patterns that lead to maladaptive behaviors and actions and the beliefs that direct these thoughts, people with mental illness can alter their thought process to improve coping. CBT is different from oth...
Mindfulness enhances managerial work by improving quality decision-making, workplace creativity and focus, and through its reputation, a placebo effect that improves managerial standards. Mindfulness is the ancient practice of attuning oneself through various meditative methods. Through mindfulness, one is present in an environment and unjudging of their surroundings. Mindfulness heightens situational awareness and is proving to be one of the most useful performance-enhancing applications of modern-day management. Evidence concludes that mindfulness performs a critical role in enhancing decision quality, based on a reduction of negative conflict in the workplace. More so, mindfulness increases creativity and focus among front-line and middle
To begin with, mindfulness is when someone can pay attention to the present moment “without being devoted to different points of view” (Martin, 1997). Along with staying focused on the present moment, mindfulness is when the particular person does not judge the current experience as the person tries to comprehend the present situation. Mindfulness makes a person reflect on one’s self by not only figuring out one’s thoughts, but also the feelings that go along with it. The complex nature of mindfulness demonstrates that it has multiple purposes that cultivates a person into realizing the potential of the brain (Davis & Hayes,
Jon Kabat-Zinn (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) is a pioneer in the field of mindfulness. Thirty years ago, he developed mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy for use in the field of medicine. According to Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”
The primary goal of this part of the current study was to determine whether mindfulness training is being offered at companies in the Tulsa Metro area. It is evident by the responses received that mindfulness training is not being offered at the majority of the companies in which participants were employed. There are several limitations associated with this study. For example, due to errors made by the researcher in designing the study, demographics associated with gender and age group could not be identified. Additionally, there is concern that mindfulness is not clearly understood in the Tulsa market. For example, when asked what types of mindfulness programs are offered, individuals stated financial, safety, fitness and inclusion as the types of mindfulness training.
People who suffer from depression might experience relapse throughout their lives. MBCT is a potential non-psychopharmatherapeutic intervention to help prevent relapse in depressed patients. A pilot study looked at 28 people with chronic-recurrent depression and a history of suicidal ideation. 14 patients received treatment as usual (TAU) and 14 received TAU in addition to MBCT. Self-reported symptoms of depression were decreased from severe to mild in the MBCT group while there was no significant change in the TAU group (Barhhofer, Crane, Hargus, Amarasinghe, Winder, and Williams, 2009). In a later study by Godfrin, K. & van Heeringen, C. (2010), 106 recovered depressed patients continued with their (TAU) or received MBCT in addition to TAU over 56 weeks. At the end of the study, relapse was significantly reduced and the time until the first relapse increased in the MBCT plus TAU group in comparison to the TAU alone. The MBCT plus TAU group also showed a significant reduction in both short and longer-term depressive mood and better mood states and quality of life. These studies suggest that MBCT added to TAU may play an important role in reduction of symptoms and relapse prevention in depressed individuals