FAQs: Meditation, Mindfulness, Psychotherapy, and Buddhism

1. Is "mindfulness" the same as "meditation"?

"Mindfulness" is not identical with "meditation," but they are closely related. In the realm of mental health treatment and stress reduction, "mindfulness" is a way of training the mind to develop a different (and less reactive, less distressing) relationship with thoughts, feelings, and sensations. And this training is done through the practice of meditation. For a longer discussion about these two concepts and how they are related, click here.

2. Isn't there something religious about meditation? What if I am not religious, or not Buddhist?

The practice of meditation is common in many religious traditions. However, it has long been recognized that there are non-religious forms of meditation that can simply be considered attentional and awareness training methods. In the 1970's, Jon Kabat-Zinn developed his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, using a secular (non-religious) form of "mindfulness" meditation as the core intervention. Tens of thousands of people, of all faiths (or of no religious faith), have completed and benefited from the meditation training used in MBSR.

3. I don't think I can meditate. My thoughts keep racing, and I don't find it enjoyable.

Many people begin or attempt a meditation practice, believing that it will be enjoyable, and/or believing that in order to meditate, you must be able to stop thinking. Neither of these ideas is helpful. Meditation is about learning to compassionately observe all phenomena, including our own thought processes, feelings (pleasure, agitation, whatever they might be), and urges (such as the desire to move around, or to scratch an itch, or to get up from our seat and do something else). It's really not about trying to control or eliminate our thoughts, feelings, or urges. Meditation is a practice, much like practicing a musical instrument, or learning a new skill of any kind. It may or may not be easy, or enjoyable, but in the long run, it is very beneficial. For a longer discussion about these ideas, click here.

4. Why should meditation be a part of psychotherapy, anyway?

Psychotherapists (and researchers in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience) have begun to incorporate meditation into psychotherapy (and to do research on how that works), because training in meditation has been linked with: improvements in mood (depression); reductions in anxiety, and in compulsive or addictive behaviors; improvements in capacity to pay attention; and many other positive results. For more information about meditation, and research into the benefits of meditation, click here and here. Also, click here for a good explanation, written by Dr. Kalea Chapman on his blog.
 

5. What kinds of problems are addressed with mindfulness-based psychotherapy?

This type of treatment can be helpful for a wide variety of presenting problems, including symptoms of depression and/or anxiety; situational stressors (relationship, family, and job problems); behavioral problems (anger, compulsive behaviors). An initial consultation with a competent psychotherapist is essential, for determining what type of treatment might be best for you.

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Comments

[Rhonda Olsen]

Thanks for this helpful information. I am wondering...are there different forms of meditation? I have heard of walking meditations. Would walking in nature be considered a type of meditation or would it be practicing mindfulness, that is if you're truly living in the moment? Many thanks! :0)

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