Mindfulness-Based Treatments

Since the late 20th century, mindfulness practices have become increasingly popular in Western cultures and used in a variety of environments ranging from clinical settings to schools to the military. Despite the widespread use of mindfulness practices, they presently have no universal definition. Attempts, however, have been made to operationalize the term; for instance, some practitioners, such as Jon Kabat-Zinn, define mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment.

Furthermore, the terms meditation and mindfulness are often mistakenly used interchangeably. These are actually two separate terms. According to Anodea Judith, meditation is a technique used for energizing, calming, or clarifying the mind, whereas mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment and noticing the subtle qualities of the moment without getting too attached. There are many ...