Zindel Segal

Yes, Zindel Segal co-developed Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) alongside Mark Williams and John Teasdale. The therapy was originally designed to prevent relapse in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder. It combines traditional cognitive therapy practices with mindfulness meditation techniques.

While traditional CBT focuses heavily on changing the content of negative thoughts, MBCT focuses on changing your relationship to your thoughts through mindfulness. The goal is to help patients observe depressive thoughts without judgment or attachment, preventing a downward spiral. It is structured as an eight-week group program.

Clinical trials have shown that MBCT is highly effective, particularly for preventing relapse in patients who have experienced three or more episodes of depression. It has been recommended by guidelines such as those from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK. The therapy teaches individuals to recognize the early signs of a depressive spiral.

Segal co-authored the clinical text *Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression*, which outlines the methodology for practitioners. He also contributed to *The Mindful Way Workbook*, which provides accessible exercises for the general public. These resources detail the eight-week program and the science behind combining mindfulness with cognitive therapy.