Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a powerful, evidence-based treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. This groundbreaking professional book provides clinicians with the essential skills they need to deliver MBCT.

In this book, you’ll discover the foundations of teaching MBCT, guidance on embodied mindful presence (a focused awareness of experience in the moment), the contemplative dialogue known as inquiry, and other strategies for delivering group-based MBCT. You’ll also find scripts, access to audio material, and practice guidelines for you and your clients. Although focused on MBCT, this book can be referenced for use in other mindfulness-based programs.

In addition, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence you need to effectively deliver MBCT and build the foundations of an embodied practice. The book starts with an overview of the MBCT program, before devoting chapters to the structure and skills required for developing competence and best practice. You’ll deepen your understanding and facility in the most challenging elements of MBCT: mindful embodied presence and inquiry.

You’ll also learn strategies for delivering this therapy to a group; troubleshooting tips; and a chapter on training, mentorship, and maintaining competence. Finally, you’ll find essential information including meditation scripts, tools, and other resources for delivering MBCT.

If you are looking to deepen your practice and ability to teach MBCT, this book—written by renowned MBCT clinicians—is an invaluable addition to your professional library.

Susan L. Woods' profile page

Patricia Rockman's profile page

Evan Collins' profile page

Susan Woods, MSW, LICSW, is a clinical social worker and was in clinical practice for many years. She is a senior mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBSR/MBCT) consultant, mentor, trainer, and supervisor, and a professional advisor on various MBCT clinical trials. Susan developed the MBSR and MBCT professional certification programs for the Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute at the University of California, San Diego, where she was principal curriculum consultant and senior guiding teacher. Susan has been teaching MBSR and MBCT for many years. She is a certified MBSR teacher through the Center of Mindfulness and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she was a teacher. Since 2005, Susan has been leading professional training programs in MBSR and MBCT, and has taught at venues worldwide. She has presented on the clinical application of mindfulness at numerous conferences, and is a published author on the training of health professionals in mindfulness-based skills. Susan is a graduate of the two-year Community Dharma Leaders Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA. She is a certified yoga teacher.

Patricia Rockman, MD, is a family physician with a focused practice in mental health. Her clinical areas of expertise include stress and change management, brief solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based programs, specifically mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). She is cofounder and senior director of education and clinical services at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto, ON, Canada, where she delivers and designs mindfulness-based programs, as well as trains and mentors clinicians (she created the MBCT facilitation certificate program, levels 1 and 2). She has delivered numerous workshops and presented at conferences locally, nationally, and internationally on mindfulness in health care and the corporate sector. She is associate professor in the departments of family and community medicine and psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and a part-time staff physician with the Family Health Team at the University Health Network. She is a certified yoga teacher and freelance writer.

Evan Collins, MD, is a psychiatrist who is trained in both mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and runs groups in both modalities at Toronto General Hospital and the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto, ON, Canada. In the past, he has assisted in the development of focused MBCT groups for people in cancer recovery and for people living with HIV, as well as for health care worker stress and resiliency. He is senior faculty in the professional development program at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, where he is involved with curriculum development and creating supervision and mentoring policies in the area of mindfulness-based interventions. He is also a mentor of trainees in mindfulness, and has delivered workshops for health care providers and the corporate sector in Canada and the United States. At present, he is involved in research studying the use of MBCT. He is adjunct assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and staff psychiatrist in the Centre for Mental Health at the University Health Network.

Foreword writer Zindel V. Segal, PhD, is professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He is coauthor of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression and The Mindful Way through Depression.

“Having had the opportunity to help train quite a number of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) teachers over the years, I have always been acutely aware of a tremendous need for a definitive, clear, and supportive guide to the art, skill, and science of teaching the program. This is that guide, written by three remarkably talented and wise teacher trainers, in a language that is both articulate and warmly supportive. This is a virtual treasure trove of resources for the teacher of MBCT, presented in a well-organized and thorough manner, in the spirit of MBCT itself. I would strongly recommend that anyone teaching MBCT or adaptations of that program read this book and keep it handy for quick reference in the future.”
—Steven D. Hickman, PsyD, founding director of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California, San Diego; executive director of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion; and clinical psychologist and associate clinical professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine

Steven D. Hickman, PsyD

“In carefully unpacking and illuminating the core elements of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), the authors—who truly know this program from the inside out—provide a great service to current and aspiring teachers. We get to see up close what’s unique about MBCT: how in marrying mindfulness to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it has created something larger than the sum of its parts. We also come to see what’s required to make it effective, including trainers who are committed to a patient process of inquiry that doesn’t settle for simple narratives, which may provide temporary comfort but avoid getting to the heart of the matter.”
—Barry Boyce, editor in chief of Mindful magazine and Mindful.org, and editor of The Mindfulness Revolution

Barry Boyce

“This exquisitely written and beautifully structured book for mindfulness teachers elucidates the often-elusive aspects and art of mindful inquiry and embodied presence. The detailed descriptions and examples of Themes, Rationale, Intentions, and Practice Skills (TRIP) are jewels that offer invaluable guidance and support for those teaching mindfulness-based interventions. This book is a vital contribution to the field of mindfulness and has the power to transform the teachers and teaching of mindfulness.”
—Diane Reibel, PhD, director of the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness, and clinical associate professor in the department of integrative medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals; coauthor of Teaching Mindfulness, and coeditor of Resources for Teaching Mindfulness

Diane Reibel, PhD

"A beautiful, wise, and deep book. The writing invites us to inquire into what it means to teach from a place of embodied mindful presence. It becomes exquisitely clear how facilitating inquiry in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a continuation of our mindfulness practice, and requires us to show up in the fullness of our imperfect humanity. This book will be invaluable to new and established teachers of all mindfulness-based programs."
—Rebecca Crane, PhD, director of the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University, and author of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (CBT Distinctive Features)

Rebecca Crane, PhD

“This is a wonderful, deep, and practical book about teaching mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). It shows the richness of the knowledge, experience, and personal practice of its writers and offers us their insights and skills. It brings together the worlds of cognitive behavioral therapy and Buddhist psychology in a way that can be applied by MBCT teachers all over the world. I am grateful to the authors for their generous sharing of both heartfelt wisdom and detailed practical instructions, as a fellow traveler on our common journey.”
—Anne Speckens, MD, professor of psychiatry at Radboud University Medical Center, and founder and director of the Radboud University Medical Center for Mindfulness in Nijmegen, Netherlands

Anne Speckens, MD

“This book is exceptional, providing a clear and comprehensive guide for anyone who wishes to teach mindfulness. At a practical level, there are transcripts from classes to illustrate the specific skills to be learned, linking these with the themes, rationale, intentions, and practical steps any teacher needs to have close at hand. Then, woven into the practical descriptions are deeper reflections that remind the reader how all of this work explores the most vulnerable yet wisest part of who we are. This is a book that will be used by every mindfulness instructor who wishes to grow in the practice of teaching and training.”
—Mark Williams, DPhil, emeritus professor in the department of clinical psychology at the University of Oxford

Mark Williams, DPhil