Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Programme

Mindfulness programme that integrates mindfulness practices with the scientific principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to the present moment deliberately and without judgement. This programme has extensive scientific evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety, as well as preventing relapse in people with depression. In addition, scientific studies indicate that these types of programmes may improve attention, reduce rumination, improve the immune and endocrine system response, reduce the perception of physical symptoms, promote the generation of positive emotions and improve social relationships.

The MBCT programme integrates the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programme developed by John Kabat-Zinn with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (http://mbct.co.uk/).

Originally, MBCT was designed to help prevent relapse in people with recurrent depression and has been recommended by the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines in the United Kingdom. Its scope of application has evolved to encompass a much broader range of people and settings: clinical, educational and the general population, as it is based on a deep understanding of the factors that cause psychological distress.

The main objective is to systematically develop the ability to be present with internal experience (sensations in one’s own body, thoughts and mood) and external experience (interactions with others, actions in the world), as well as the interaction between the two.

This programme may be aimed at:

• Organisations, private or public entities: heterogeneous groups, peer groups, middle management, senior executives, members of management committees or a combination of the above.
• Clinical and healthcare organisations: associations for people with functional diversity and associations for people with a disease. For example, associations for people with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cancer, etc.

The programme structure is:

• One preliminary session
• Eight weekly sessions lasting 2 hours
• One guided and structured day of silent mindfulness practice

Course content:

• Instruction in formal meditation methods:
  • Body scan meditation
  • Mindful meditation
  • Seated meditation
  • Three-Step Breathing Space
• Instruction on developing an informal mindfulness meditation practice during daily activities
• Daily formal practices to be carried out at home (45 minutes per day) and informal practices throughout the course
• Group discussions between the instructor and participants during the sessions
• Educational elements or contextual information linking the practices to everyday life.

• Academic Rigour: Training based on the standards of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bangor. It is one of the few programmes in Spain led by university staff with specific international training.
• Relapse Prevention: Extensive evidence supporting the reduction of rumination and improvement of the immune and endocrine response.
• Data-Driven Approach: The ability to apply Machine Learning to process session data allows organisations to obtain detailed reports on the return on investment in wellbeing and the actual evolution of the working environment or patients’ health status.
• Versatile Formats: Instruction in formal methods (body scan, seated meditation) and informal methods for integrating mindfulness into professional and personal daily life.

The programme has already been successfully implemented in diverse populations, including caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy members of the general population, demonstrating a high adherence and satisfaction rate.

• Human Resources and Corporate Wellbeing.
• Healthcare Sector (Hospitals, Mental Health Clinics, Patient Associations).
• Educational Institutions (Universities and Secondary Schools).
• Public Administration (Community Health Programmes).

Alicia Sánchez Pérez – Department of Pathology and Surgery