Table 1 Modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program
Session | Main theme | Content | Home practice |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Awareness and automatic pilot | ➢ Establish the orientation of the class ➢ The Raisin exercise (eating meditation) ➢ 13-min body scan ➢ Feedback and discussion of exercise | ➢ 45-min body scan for 6 out of 7 days ➢ Mindfulness of a routine practice |
2 | Living in our head | ➢ Practice review ➢ Thoughts and feelings exercises ➢ 45-min body scan ➢ Brief mindfulness of breathing | ➢ 45-min body scan for 6 out of 7 days ➢ 10 min of mindfulness of breath for 6 out of 7 days ➢ Pleasant experience calendar (one example daily) ➢ Mindfulness of a routine practice |
3 | Gathering the scattered mind | ➢ Practice review ➢ Focus on unpleasant experiences exercises ➢ Seeing and hearing practice ➢ Sitting meditation (awareness of breath and body and responding to painful sensations) ➢ 3-min breathing space ➢ Mindful stretching and breath meditation ➢ Mindful movement | ➢ Stretching and breathing meditation on days 1, 3, and 5 ➢ 40-min mindful movement on days 2, 4, and 6 ➢ Unpleasant experience calendar (a different experience each day) ➢ 3-min breathing space, three times daily |
4 | Recognizing aversion and allowing | ➢ Practice review ➢ Seeing and hearing practice ➢ Mindful communication ➢ 3-min breathing space ➢ Mindful walking ➢ Sitting meditation (awareness of breath, body, and sounds, then how we relate to our experience through the reaction) | ➢ Sitting meditation, 6 out of 7 days ➢ 3-min breathing space (three times a day) ➢ 3-min breathing space—responsive (whenever notice unpleasant feelings) |
5 | Thoughts are not facts | ➢ Practice review ➢ Sitting meditation ➢ Mood, thoughts and alternative viewpoints exercise ➢ 3-min breathing space (responsive) ➢ Psychoeducation in family caregiving stress | ➢ Select a guided meditation to practice at least 40 min per day ➢ 3-min breathing space (three times a day) ➢ 3-min breathing space—added instructions (whenever notice unpleasant feelings) |
6 | Take care of myself | ➢ Practice review ➢ Sitting meditation with breath, body, sounds ➢ Activity and mood exercise ➢ Identifying habitual emotional reactions to difficulties ➢ 3-min breathing space (responsive) | ➢ 3-min breathing space (three times a day) ➢ 3-min breathing space—added instructions (whenever notice unpleasant feelings) ➢ Select from all different forms of practice and apply them on a regular basis ➢ Develop action to be used in the face of lowered moods |
7 | Maintaining and extending new learning | ➢ Practice review ➢ 45-min body scan ➢ Looking forward exercise ➢ Preparing for the future exercise |  |