Harnessing the Synergy Between Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

Abstract

This column explores mindfulness as one part of Buddhist teaching and practice that has attracted attention in the treatment of mental and substance use disorders. Cognitive neuroscientific correlates of mindfulness are presented. Mindfulness is offered as a potentially valuable technique that can not only help patients in individual psychotherapies endure the painful emotions that are part of psychotherapy sessions and of managing life between sessions but also help patients and clinicians across modalities move beyond adherence to particular techniques that focus primarily on symptom reduction, to better meet patient needs and improve treatment outcomes. This column explores elements of a mindfulness coping skills group used in a residential treatment setting that emphasizes intensive individual psychotherapy in a psychodynamic system of care.