James Fitzgerald Therapy PLLC

Mindfulness-based therapies and mind-body approaches have gradually become a cornerstone of modern psychotherapy, offering holistic, research-backed tools that address both psychological and physical facets of well-being. Far from a fleeting trend, mindfulness has deep cultural and scientific roots, beginning with early cognitive and somatic traditions, then blossoming through the development of structured programs like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and finding resonance in newer forms of therapy such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). By systematically integrating present-moment awareness, these approaches help individuals develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves, process challenging emotions, and reduce overall distress.

Below is a historical overview of the major mindfulness-based and mind-body psychotherapies. The list begins in roughly chronological order of their development and highlights how each approach has integrated the concept of mindful awareness into its theory and practice. This copy is designed to provide a clear, compassionate explanation for prospective clients, conveying both the scientific background and the human element of these therapeutic modalities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) first emerged in the 1960s through the work of Aaron Beck and, in a slightly different form, Albert Ellis. Its central idea is that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are intimately interconnected. By recognizing unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with more balanced perspectives, individuals can reduce emotional distress and shift their behavioral responses. Early CBT did not explicitly emphasize mindfulness as it is known today. However, it laid the groundwork for future therapies that would highlight staying present and observing thoughts without judgment. Over time, many CBT practitioners began incorporating mindful strategies—such as asking clients to notice, label, and accept cognitions—recognizing that mindful attention to one’s inner experience often enhances cognitive restructuring efforts.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) was developed in the 1970s by Peter Levine, who focused on the interplay between body sensations and traumatic stress. Drawing on observations of how animals naturally recover from stressful experiences, Somatic Experiencing helps clients mindfully notice physical tension, impulses, and sensations in a safe manner. This gentle awareness of bodily cues—rather than avoiding or suppressing them—is a vital step toward integrating traumatic memories and restoring a sense of calm. Though not always labeled as “mindfulness” in its early stages, Somatic Experiencing foregrounded the principle of contacting the present-moment experience of the body, a hallmark of mindfulness.

Hakomi Therapy also began taking shape in the 1970s under Ron Kurtz. Though not as universally recognized as some other methods, Hakomi is noteworthy for its foundational use of mindfulness in therapy sessions. Practitioners guide clients to slow down, notice bodily and emotional signals, and explore core beliefs as they arise in real time. This “loving presence” and open curiosity toward moment-to-moment experience has become a cornerstone of many contemporary mind-body approaches.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was created in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Kabat-Zinn adapted centuries-old Buddhist meditative practices into a secular, clinical program geared toward individuals experiencing chronic pain and stress-related conditions. Participants learn formal mindfulness meditation (such as focusing on the breath, body scanning, or gentle yoga) along with informal mindfulness (like paying attention to daily activities). MBSR gave a strong scientific and healthcare-oriented footing to the concept of mindfulness, demonstrating significant improvements in stress and pain management. This groundbreaking work helped validate mindfulness as an evidence-based tool for various psychological and medical conditions.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, established by Pat Ogden in the late 1970s and early 1980s, further combined mindfulness with a specific focus on how the body processes trauma and attachment experiences. Therapists and clients track body posture, movements, and sensations in the present moment to discover implicit beliefs and emotions stored in the body. This bodily-based mindfulness invites a compassionate, non-judgmental exploration of physical and emotional patterns, helping to integrate fragmented or dissociated experiences.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) emerged in the 1980s through the work of Sue Johnson. EFT centers on attachment needs in adult relationships, assisting couples (and sometimes individuals or families) in identifying and restructuring patterns of emotional interaction. While EFT is not always labeled as a mindfulness-based therapy, it frequently uses present-focused interventions, encouraging clients to stay with their emotional states in a mindful, accepting way. This in-the-moment exploration helps clients better understand their vulnerabilities, communicate them effectively, and reshape their relational bonds.

Internal Family Systems (IFS), developed by Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, is another innovative therapy that has increasingly woven in mindfulness principles. IFS helps individuals identify and work with their “parts,” or subpersonalities, in a spirit of curiosity and compassion. During sessions, clients learn to tune in to their inner landscape—mindfully noticing different emotional or cognitive parts that come forward—and to anchor themselves in a calm, aware “Self.” This approach explicitly draws on the mindful stance of non-judgmental observation to foster healing among these internal parts.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) began taking shape in the mid- to late-1980s, through the work of Steven C. Hayes and colleagues. As one of the “third wave” cognitive behavioral therapies, ACT emphasizes acceptance, mindfulness, and value-based action. The practice often involves mindfulness exercises that encourage clients to observe thoughts and feelings without attempting to eliminate or control them. By cultivating openness to discomfort and clarifying life values, individuals can make more deliberate, meaningful behavioral choices, even in the face of challenging emotions or thoughts.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), introduced by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was originally designed for individuals experiencing intense emotional dysregulation and self-harm behaviors. DBT draws on CBT techniques but incorporates “dialectics”—the idea that two seemingly opposite truths can coexist—and a core mindfulness module. Clients learn skills like “wise mind,” where the present-moment awareness of emotions, thoughts, and sensations is combined with reason to inform balanced decision-making. Mindfulness is the platform on which DBT’s interpersonal, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills are built.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), appearing in the early 1990s, is a brief therapeutic approach related to Motivational Interviewing. While not typically defined as a purely mindfulness-based therapy, it can include mindful awareness of ambivalence and change talk around substance use or other behaviors. Encouraging clients to notice their shifting motivations and internal states—rather than pressuring them—echoes the emphasis on present-focused, non-judgmental observation found in mindfulness practices.

Polyvagal Theory, formulated by Stephen Porges in 1994, is not a therapy in and of itself but has significantly influenced many body-centered and trauma-focused therapies. It describes how the autonomic nervous system responds to safety, danger, and life threat, shaping emotional regulation and social engagement. Therapists trained in polyvagal-informed methods help clients mindfully track subtle shifts in their autonomic states—recognizing cues of safety or threat—and support the individual in building a sense of safety. This understanding often leads to interventions that encourage mindful self-regulation and co-regulation with safe others.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), formally developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale in the late 1990s, built directly upon MBSR techniques and integrated them into a cognitive therapy framework designed to prevent depressive relapse. MBCT teaches clients to notice the early warning signs of depression and respond skillfully rather than react automatically to negative thought loops. By learning to observe rumination without becoming entangled in it, individuals gain tools to manage symptoms before they spiral into a full episode.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), pioneered by Paul Gilbert in the early 2000s, also incorporates mindfulness as a stepping stone toward cultivating self-compassion and empathy. CFT explores how our “threat,” “drive,” and “soothing” emotional systems interact, often shaped by early experiences. Mindful awareness of one’s internal critical voice and its triggers paves the way for intentionally practicing compassion toward oneself and others. Through guided imagery, soothing breathing techniques, and mindful reflection, CFT leverages the power of kindness and acceptance to heal shame and reduce suffering.

Looking across all these approaches, we see a common thread: mindfulness is the intentional, non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. Whether the therapy primarily targets thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, or interpersonal patterns, mindfulness fosters curiosity, reduces avoidance, and promotes greater self-compassion. Over the decades, these varied approaches have shown how turning toward one’s moment-to-moment experience—even when it is painful—can transform suffering into understanding, resilience, and growth. They each represent a distinct branch on the larger family tree of mindful and mind-body psychotherapies, continually inspiring new innovations to help individuals heal and flourish.

References:

• Beck, A. T. (1970). Cognitive therapy: Nature and relation to behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy, 1(2), 184–200.
• Levine, P. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books.
• Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living. Delacorte Press.
• Kurtz, R. (1990). Body-Centered Psychotherapy: The Hakomi Method. LifeRhythm.
• Ogden, P., & Minton, K. (2000). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: One method for processing traumatic memory. Traumatology, 6(3), 1–20.
• Johnson, S. M. (2004). The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. Brunner-Routledge.
• Schwartz, R. (1995). Internal Family Systems Therapy. The Guilford Press.
• Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The Guilford Press.
• Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. The Guilford Press.
• Miller, W. R., Zweben, A., DiClemente, C. C., & Rychtarik, R. G. (1992). Motivational Enhancement Therapy Manual: A Clinical Research Guide for Therapists Treating Individuals with Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. NIAAA Project MATCH Monograph Series.
• Porges, S. W. (1994). Orienting in a defensive world: Mammalian modifications of our evolutionary heritage. Psychophysiology, 31(4), 410–418.
• Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression. The Guilford Press.
• Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion Focused Therapy. Routledge.

By drawing from these diverse yet interwoven approaches, this clinician’s work remains grounded in the rich tradition of mindfulness-based and mind-body psychotherapies—helping clients discover a compassionate, present-centered way to navigate personal challenges and cultivate well-being.