Stay in the present and build a happier future Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy For Dummies takes you through the eight-week MBCT course, using the principles of mindfulness to complement established CBT techniques.

Introduction 1 Part I: Introducing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy 7 Chapter 1: Improving Your Wellbeing with Mindfulness 9 Chapter 2: Deciding to Lead a Mindful Existence 23 Chapter 3: Putting Mindfulness into Practice with the Eight-Week Course 39 Part II: Sailing Your Personal Ship – the Eight-Week MBCT Course 59 Chapter 4: Preparing for the Voyage – Week One: Practising Mindfulness and Stepping Out of Autopilot 61 Chapter 5: Plotting the Course – Week Two: Cultivating the Right Attitude 77 Chapter 6: Setting Sail – Week Three: Developing Physical Awareness 97 Chapter 7: Weathering the Storm – Week Four: Dealing with Diffi culties 115 Chapter 8: Navigating Troubled Waters – Week Five: Relinquishing Attachments 133 Chapter 9: Going with the Current – Week Six: Accepting the True Nature of Thoughts 153 Chapter 10: Coming Into Port – Week Seven: Looking After Your Own Wellbeing 173 Chapter 11: Looking Beyond the Horizon to the Rest of Your Life – Week Eight: Living Mindfully 191 Part III: Developing Different Treatment Practices 209 Chapter 12: Stopping the Cycle of Depression 211 Chapter 13: Breaking Free from Addiction 231 Chapter 14: Relieving the Strain of Anxiety 249 Chapter 15: Nurturing Hope While Living with Pain 265 Chapter 16: Finding Purpose and Meaning When You’re Older 281 Chapter 17: Bringing Harmony to Your Life 301 Part IV: The Part of Tens 325 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Expand Your Mindfulness Experience 327 Chapter 19: Checking Out Ten Inspirational People 335 Chapter 20: Surveying (Almost) Ten Inspirational Places to Visit 343 Index 349

Break the mental chains that keep you stuck in the past and start living a fuller, happier life If you suffer from depression you know how it feels to be dragged down by past hurts, regrets and disappointments. In this book you’ll learn an amazingly simple, yet highly effective, approach to breaking free of past woes (and future worries) and beating negative ways of thinking. Therapist Dr Patrizia Collard takes you on an eight-week journey of self-discovery, arming you with powerful tools for warding off future depression and related problems, such as anxiety, addiction and low self-esteem. Make room for peace of mind – learn to prepare a physical (and mental) space conducive to meditation practiceTake a good look at what’s hurting you – find the courage to confront your demons, face-to-face, rather than pushing them awayBreak those mental chains – become aware of the background noise and static that’s distracting you from clarity and purposePay attention to the here and now – master mindfulnesstechniques for living in the present moment, rather than fixating on the past or worrying about what the future may bringExpand your focus – apply what you learn to beating an array of specific problems from addiction to depression, including eating disorders, pain, anxiety and more Audio download includes Seven guided meditations, including the sitting with difficult thoughts meditation and mindful breathing meditation Step-by-step advice to prepare yourself for effective meditation  

With great programmes and chapters on stopping the cycle of depression and breaking free from addiction, this is a very good book; if you have any problems or just having a hard time, this book has a large amount of knowledge that can you put your life back on track. (Frost Magazine, Autumn 2013)