Mindfulness och kognitiv terapi.

The concept of mindfulness refers to a state and a skill that is characterized by conscious awareness of the here-and-now, as well as an observing, accepting attitude to one’s own experiences. Various kinds of mindfulness-related methods have become increasingly more important during the last decade within cognitive and behavioural psychotherapy. The article contains a discussion of possible therapeutic effects of an increased mindfulness, an increased mental and physical relaxation, increased skills of emotional processing, reduced impulsivity, a more developed meta-cognitive awareness, improved interpersonal relationships, and an increased wisdom. Much remains to be understood, however, concerning which types of problems different mindfulness methods are suitable for.