Mindfulness is the practice of observing, rather than reacting to, your thoughts and impulses. It is developed primarily through meditation and exercises that train the mind to remain in the moment and refrain from attaching value judgments to experiences and thoughts. It plays a key role in both DBT and ACT, and has been integrated into a number of more conventional treatment programs that address anxiety, depression, and other disorders.

Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist practices that date back more than 2500 years. When combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, it is a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety, depression, and stress. As part of a larger ACT- or DBT-based program it has been used to tackle eating disorders, addiction, and symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

In keeping with our mission to stay in the vanguard of psychology New Harbinger has published a number of books that include mindfulness in their self-help programs. Press kits for these are available.

Five Good Minutes

Grieving Mindfully

The Anorexia Workbook

Awakening Self-Esteem

Calming Your Anxious Mind

Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life

Peaceful Mind

Eating Mindfully

A Few Research Findings on Mindfulness

A 1992 study showed that those patients who underwent a meditation-based stress-reduction program for a variety of anxiety disorders showed significant symptom reduction (Kabat-Zinn, et al.).

A 1998 study focused on medical and premedical students who practiced mindfulness-based stress reduction. It revealed that they experienced significant relief in anxiety and depression (Shapiro and Schwartz).

A 2000 study showed significantly reduced levels of depression, anxiety, and anger in cancer patients who had participated in a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program (Speca, et al.).