Sometimes a low mood is followed by a familiar stream of thoughts: why this is happening, what it says about you, and whether it will always be this way. You may be looking for help noticing that pattern without spending the rest of the day inside it.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy brings mindfulness practice together with cognitive therapy. At Austin Mindfulness Center, you can ask about therapists who use MBCT and discuss the format and scope of the care they provide.
What is MBCT?
MBCT was developed to help prevent relapse in recurrent depression. It teaches awareness of patterns in mood and thinking, with practice relating differently to those experiences. Oxford Mindfulness’s introduction to the MBCT manual describes the program and its origins.
The established program is structured over eight weeks. An individual therapist drawing on MBCT is not necessarily offering that complete course. This distinction matters when comparing options, particularly if a referring clinician has recommended a specific program.
How is it different from general mindfulness?
Mindfulness can be part of many kinds of therapy. MBCT is a particular approach with a structured curriculum; it is not a label for every breathing exercise or meditation practice.
If you want to explore mindfulness more broadly, our mindfulness and stress therapy page is another starting point. If you are looking specifically for MBCT, say so when contacting AMC and ask what the clinician’s work includes. This page does not advertise a currently scheduled group course.
What might you discuss or practice?
MBCT may include guided attention practices, cognitive exercises, and reflection on what you noticed. Rather than judging yourself for a wandering mind, the work creates opportunities to recognize familiar reactions. Practice between meetings is part of the established approach; ask what that would look like in the care being proposed.
You can bring practical concerns into that discussion. Perhaps sitting still is uncomfortable, attention is difficult to sustain, or previous meditation experiences have not felt helpful. The therapist should know those things when considering fit and adaptations.
Is it a fit for what I need now?
If you are seeking help with depression or recurring mood difficulties, tell the clinician what is happening currently, not only what you have experienced in the past. Ask why they would recommend this approach and whether other treatment or coordination is needed.
You do not need to stop existing treatment or change medication to make an inquiry. Decisions about prescribed medication belong in a conversation with the prescriber. A mindfulness approach should be considered within your overall care rather than assumed to replace it.
Questions that make the options clearer
- Are you offering a full MBCT program or MBCT-informed individual therapy?
- What training do you have in the approach, and who is it designed to serve?
- What would I practice between appointments, and how much time should I plan for?
- How would you adapt practices for my needs or respond if they increase distress?
- How will we assess whether this is the right approach at this point in my care?
Location, fees, and scheduling
AMC has offices in Northwest Hills and Sunset Valley, plus online therapy in Texas. Confirm the available format for the therapist and approach you are considering. Our rates and insurance page is a starting point; fees and coverage need to be checked for your particular care.
Ask about MBCT at AMC
Request a therapist through our therapist finder and mention your interest in MBCT, including any recommendation for a structured course. You can also browse our therapists or call (512) 578-8070. Getting clear about the options is a useful first step, even if you are not yet sure which one you need.
Frequently Asked Questions About MBCT
Here are the questions people most often ask about Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
What is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)?
If you’ve been through depression before, you may know how a low day can start a familiar chain of thoughts. MBCT helps you notice that chain earlier and relate to it differently. It blends mindfulness practice with ideas from cognitive therapy, so thoughts like “this will never get better” become passing mental events rather than facts. Classically it’s an eight-week program. What mindfulness-based therapy is (and isn’t) explains more.
Who is MBCT meant for? Do I have to have depression?
MBCT was designed for people who have had depression more than once and want to lower the chance of it returning. That’s where most of the research is, and UK guidelines (NICE) recommend it for people with recurrent depression who are currently doing reasonably well. It has since been adapted for anxiety, stress and other concerns. If you’re unsure whether it fits what you’re living with, that’s a good question to bring to a therapist.
Can I start MBCT if I’m depressed right now?
You can certainly ask, and it’s kind to yourself to be clear about how you’re doing today. The original program was built for people between episodes, and its practice can feel heavy in the middle of a hard depression. A therapist may suggest starting elsewhere and bringing in MBCT later. Tell them what’s happening now, not only what’s happened before. If you’re thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911 if you’re in immediate danger.
How is MBCT different from MBSR?
They’re close cousins. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), created by Jon Kabat-Zinn, is a general eight-week course for stress, pain and everyday strain. MBCT grew out of it and adds cognitive therapy aimed at depression, like learning your personal warning signs and planning how to respond when your mood dips. If stress is your main concern, mindfulness therapy for stress may fit. If you’re focused on staying well after depression, MBCT is more targeted.
How is MBCT different from regular CBT?
Both look at how thoughts shape mood. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) often asks you to examine a thought, weigh the evidence and find a more balanced one. MBCT focuses less on changing what a thought says and more on your relationship to it: noticing it, recognizing it as a thought, and letting it pass. ACT shares some of that spirit. No one approach is best for everyone, and many people find they work well together.
Is MBCT done in a group or one-on-one?
Classically, MBCT is taught as an eight-week group course, and that’s the format most studies have tested. Our therapists can bring MBCT into individual therapy, drawing on its practices and ideas within your own sessions. That isn’t the same as completing the full group program, which matters if a doctor recommended a specific course. Call or text (512) 578-8070 and our intake team can talk through formats with you.
How much practice will I need to do at home?
It’s reasonable to want to know what you’re signing up for. The full program traditionally asks for close to an hour of practice most days, and studies show people tend to do about half that and still benefit. In individual therapy, your therapist can help you find an amount that fits your life. We think of it as “mindfulness without performance”: you don’t need to clear your mind or already be calm, and a distracted practice still counts.
Can MBCT replace my antidepressant?
This is a big and personal question. Some research has found MBCT protects against depression returning about as well as maintenance antidepressants for some people, but that doesn’t make it the right swap for you. Please don’t stop or change medication on your own; those decisions belong with your prescriber. Many people use MBCT alongside medication, and a therapist can work with your overall care rather than asking you to choose between them.
Can I do MBCT online?
Yes. Mindfulness practices carry over well to video, and some people find it easier to practice from a familiar room. We offer secure online therapy anywhere in Texas, and about half our clients meet online. You can also meet in person in North Austin or South Austin, or mix the two. Ask whether the therapist you’re considering brings MBCT into online sessions.
Does insurance cover MBCT, and what does it cost?
It’s reasonable to want the practical side settled before you begin. We accept several plans for individual counseling, including Aetna, BCBS-TX, Cigna and Optum (Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare); see every plan we take. Medicaid and Medicare aren’t accepted, and insurance doesn’t cover couples or family sessions. Self-pay rates run $75 to $200 a session. Call or text (512) 578-8070, or find your fit in about a minute with our therapist finder.
Still have questions?
Whether you’re wondering about insurance, choosing a therapist, or getting started, our team is here to help.
Call or text (512) 578-8070Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.