Mindfulness Approaches to Psychological Disorders

Mindfulness is a concept derived from Buddhist ideas and practices that has been applied to a wide range of psychological difficulties. Using formal and informal mindfulness meditation practices (in combination with components of other therapies including cognitive behavioral treatments), mindfulness interventions aim to help clients become more aware of problematic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting, and help them develop a more accepting relationship with their unwanted internal experiences. This article will describe how such approaches may be applied to treat anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, will review relevant research, and will discuss important areas of future research.