In recent years, cognitive behavioural approaches to addiction therapy
have been supplemented with aspects of mindfulness, known as mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy or MBCT.
If you have been tuned in to celebrity trends lately, you will have
noticed that meditation has become popular in star-studded circles. With big
names extolling the benefits
of mindfulness, it's little wonder that awareness practices are gaining
momentum in many aspects of the culture, from business to sports .
Meditation has been reaching a popular audience, as well, with
well-known books by authors such as Rangana Rupavi Choudhary and Thích Nhất Hạnh
challenging us to be present, mindful and compassionate. And what is true for
everyday people is also true for those who have addictions or other mental
health conditions.
A little history is in order to help locate these new trends in
mindfulness in addiction treatment. In the last 20 years, cognitive behavioural
approaches have become the predominant research-validated treatments for
substance abuse disorders. However, in recent years, these approaches have been
supplemented with aspects of mindfulness, and are known as mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy or MBCT. To understand how these two approaches complement
each other, we will first take a look at cognitive-behavioural therapies.
Such therapies help people recover by introducing new skills designed to
change the thoughts and behaviours that contribute to substance use. The
emphasis is on self-efficacy, or teaching those in recovery skills that they
can then use on their own. In addition, the role of emotions, effective ways of
responding to emotions, and actually developing a more positive mood are also
addressed as ways of recovering from addiction. However, in cognitive and
behavioural therapies, such interventions primarily take the form of new
behaviours and cognitions designed to influence emotions.
Many people with substance abuse disorders also have co-occurring mood
disorders, such as depression or anxiety. In many ways, cognitive behavioural
therapies are a good treatment option, as their focus on thoughts and
behaviours helps to treat the mood disorder. However, the addition of
mindfulness-based therapies offers additional benefits to existing treatment
protocols.
Therapies with a mindfulness component directly address emotional
regulation issues – using additional techniques not found in the traditional
cognitive-behavioral approach. These techniques focus on observation, awareness
and acceptance of uncomfortable emotions – as well as a range of meditative
practices designed to develop awareness more generally. A simple example might
include sitting and observing breathing in and out. The benefits of mindfulness
to mental, physical, and emotional health are well-documented, and those
benefits are beginning to be researched with addiction treatment. At Shafa Home
we have long been using mindfulness as a key component of our treatment
programme with excellent results.
(These articles are the sole property of “The Cabin Chiang Mai”, they are its original
authors.)
