Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Are They Compatible Concepts?
Neil Harrington, Charles Pickles
Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy November 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1891/0889-8391.23.4.315 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that mindfulness is incompatible with CBT's core principles and, as a concept derived from Buddhist mysticism, represents an antirational and prescientific worldview. Proposes that mindfulness cannot legitimately form a new scientific paradigm for CBT and cautions against CBT becoming an all-encompassing term. |
Abstract
Several therapies have emerged that include mindfulness as a central theoretical concept within a Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) model. These include Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). This article argues that mindfulness is contrary to many of the core principles of CBT, but more importantly, the concept of mindfulness lacks meaning, outside of the Buddhist religious tradition from which it arises. As part of a mystical ideology, mindfulness represents an antirational and prescientific worldview. As such, this article questions the assertion that mindfulness can be a part of a new scientific paradigm, representing a “third generation” of CBT, and suggests that CBT is in danger of becoming an all-encompassing term.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Can Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and Mindfulness be Integrated Effectively within High Performance Settings? Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy August 23, 2022
- The relationship between mindfulness and depression: examining the chain mediating role of shyness and core self-evaluation. BMC Psychology April 23, 2025
- Therapeutic applications of mindfulness in paediatric settings BJPsych Advances 2016
- How Practice Differences Shape Participant Experience in Second-Generation Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Qualitative Study of Non-Buddhist University Students Mindfulness October 9, 2026
- A Systematic Review: Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer-Related Pain. Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing April 1, 2019
and 1 more in the library