At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we have numerous ways to treat your depression and other mental health conditions.

We want you to not only feel better and have improved quality of life, but we also want to ensure your symptoms don’t return. This can be difficult with depression as many people do see a return of their symptoms; however, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can prevent relapse.

Several of our mental health experts have special training and expertise in this type of psychotherapy, so you can be confident in your care when it comes to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

Group-therapy-conversationWhat is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?

MBCT is an eight-week, group-based intervention designed to facilitate recovery from depression and prevent future relapse. This evidence-based program combines elements of cognitive therapy with meditative practices and attitudes that are based on the cultivation of mindfulness. This helps you develop new ways of relating to experiences that are protective for mood and well-being and encourages you to use acceptance, compassion and curiosity.

MBCT was developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s mindfulness-based stress reduction program. It’s based on the premise that mindfulness helps increase awareness of habitual patterns that increase vulnerability to downward spirals and getting stuck.

Two large randomized clinical trials of MBCT showed that it reduced rates of relapse by 50% among those who suffer from recurrent depression.

Ohio State’s MBCT program

Our mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program requires a strong commitment on your part to be successful. We ask that you commit to:

  • One initial, individual evaluation for screening and orientation
  • Attending weekly group sessions (lasting two hours each) for eight weeks and one daylong retreat
  • Practicing for 40 to 50 minutes daily at home during the program (audio files are provided to guide home practice)

Who should participate in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?

We recommend people participate in MBCT if they have a diagnosis of depression or anxiety. You should also be functioning well in daily life with the energy and motivation to engage in assigned home practices consistently.

Who shouldn’t participate?

MBCT isn’t for everyone. We don’t recommend it if you:

  • Have experienced symptoms of psychosis
  • Have received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the past six months
  • Are actively using substances 
  • Have current suicidal thoughts
  • Can’t function appropriately in group settings

How to enroll in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?

If you’re interested, please contact our team at mbct@osumc.edu for more information on joining the MBCT groups.

Additional Resources

Our Team

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Sophie Lazarus, PhD

MBCT groups will be led by Sophie Lazarus, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Ohio. Dr. Lazarus is a long time mindfulness-practitioner and a certified teacher of MBCT at the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute. She completed an intensive training in MBCT under the guidance of one of the treatment developers, Dr. Zindel Segal and another expert in MBCT, Susan Woods, MSW, LICSW. Dr. Lazarus may be joined by a co-facilitator who is an advanced trainee in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, including predoctoral clinical psychology interns and advanced clinical psychology graduate students who have been trained by Dr. Lazarus in the MBCT model.

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Maureen Maher-Bridge, LISW-S

Maureen Maher-Bridge, LISW-S is a Lead Psychotherapist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and is a licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Ohio. Maureen was trained at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh, PA in CBT and has over 25 years of clinical experience in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. She completed the Teacher Training Intensive in MBCT through the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto, Canada and is currently leading MBCT groups.

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