Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for Depression and Anxiety
MBCT was originally developed as a depression relapse prevention course, shown to be particularly effective for those who have experienced 3 or more episodes of depression. It has been adapted for managing anxiety and other mental health conditions. MBCT has strong evidence supporting its efficacy (e.g., see Mental Health Foundation of UK:https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-mbct). Kuyken et al. (2016, Lancet) showed that MBCT is as effective as antidepressants, the currently accepted treatment to prevent relapse due to depression. The evidence in support of MBCT is strong enough for the British National Health Service to offer MBCT as an effective option for the prevention of relapse due to depression. Recent studies have shown that MBCT can reduce the severity of depressive symptoms for those who currently have depression (Goldberg et al., 2019).
In this highly experiential course students will learn:
- Various mindfulness meditation practices
- Gentle mindful movement
- How conditioned patterns of mind, including thoughts and emotions, can trigger depressive relapse and sustain depressive symptoms
- How to enhance non-judgmental awareness in practice and daily life through group dialogue
- Daily home practice assignments
- To develop an early warning signal for relapse in order to act more skillfully before relapse due to depression and anxiety occur
- How to build and maintain a regular meditation practice
Daily home practices are assigned at the end of every class for students to consolidate their learning, and to bring mindful awareness into their lives. Detailed handouts are included, and provided at the end of each session.
Who Should Attend:
Individuals wishing to prevent relapse due to depression, school and work burnout, and those who would like to manage the symptoms of anxiety. Individuals who have bipolar disorder may also benefit from the skills learned in this course.
Upcoming MBCT Courses (In-person):
May – July, 2023 through Langara College
From: May 18 to July 6, 2023
Dates: 8 Thursday evenings plus one full day retreat Saturday June 17
Time: 7:00 – 9:30p.m. (Pacific Time) for evening classes; 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. for retreat
Location of classes: Broadway Campus (Unit M11 (Mezzanine Level), 601 West Broadway).
Location of retreat: Langara College Main Campus (100 West 49th Avenue, Room TBA)
COVID-19 considerations: The course is offered in two large spaces to enable physical distancing, and class size is limited. You are asked not to attend if you display any symptoms of COVID. Masks are optional, and your decision to mask or not will be respected.
To register, please contact (604) 323-5927 or email: rchow@langara.ca
Facilitator: Tom Heah, M.Sc. (OT), Certified MBCT Facilitator
Please click to book a free, 30 minute MBCT assessment.