Quick Overview: Yes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes mindfulness-based stress reduction as a program that teaches mindful meditation and also includes discussion sessions and strategies to help people apply what they have learned to stressful experiences. This describes mindfulness-based stress reduction specifically. It does not establish that every mindfulness program includes these elements, that a particular offering uses them, or that the program will fit a particular person.
How Meditation and Application Can Appear Together
Meditation can be one part of a broader program. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health gives mindfulness-based stress reduction as an example: it teaches mindful meditation and includes discussion sessions and other strategies for applying learning to stressful experiences.
This description names more than meditation alone. It names discussion and strategies for application as parts of mindfulness-based stress reduction. At the same time, the available information does not specify what a particular discussion session involves, what strategies a particular program uses, or how an individual participant may experience them.
The source also says that programs teaching meditation or mindfulness may combine these practices with other activities. “May” describes a possibility, not a requirement. A program’s own description is the appropriate place to look for information about the components it includes.
Mindfulness and meditation have related but distinct descriptions
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes meditation as a variety of practices that focus on mind-and-body integration and are used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being. Some meditation practices involve maintaining mental focus on a sensation, such as breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a repeated word or phrase.
The same source describes mindfulness as maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments. Mindfulness meditation is one way mindfulness may be practiced, but the source’s discussion of meditation also includes a variety of practices.
These definitions can help a reader ask clearer questions about an offering. For example, does the description name mindful meditation? Does it explain whether discussion is included? Does it describe strategies for applying learning to stressful experiences? If those details are not available, this article cannot supply them for a specific program.
Stressful experiences are named in the MBSR description
For mindfulness-based stress reduction, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health specifically identifies strategies intended to help people apply what they have learned to stressful experiences. The source does not define what will count as stressful for a particular person. It also does not prescribe a particular response to an experience or determine what will be helpful for an individual.
A respectful way to explore this topic is to ask how a program describes application. A reader may want to know whether an offering names meditation, discussion, and strategies for stressful experiences, or whether it describes a different approach. Those are questions about the information provided by an offering, rather than conclusions about personal fit.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives among its services. The available practice facts do not identify mindfulness meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a service or modality offered by the practice.
What Psychotherapy Information Adds
The National Institute of Mental Health describes psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, as a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It states that elements of psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises. It also lists coping and problem-solving strategies among possible elements.
This is a general description of psychotherapy. It does not state that every psychotherapy approach includes mindfulness, meditation, relaxation techniques, coping strategies, or problem-solving strategies. It also does not establish what is included in a specific therapy service.
Named approaches should be described by their own information
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy integrates mindfulness practices with aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy. The same source describes mindfulness-based stress reduction as teaching mindful meditation while including discussion sessions and strategies for applying learning to stressful experiences.
These are descriptions of named approaches in the source material. The available information does not establish that a particular provider offers either approach. It also does not establish which approach, if any, is a better fit for a reader.
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training, the disorder being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment. That general statement does not identify the approach used in any particular service.
Research descriptions do not settle personal-fit questions
The research notes describe mindfulness-based stress reduction and possible elements of psychotherapy. They do not determine whether mindfulness meditation, a mindfulness program, or psychotherapy fits an individual reader. They also do not determine an individual outcome.
A preliminary conversation can be a place to ask what an offering includes and how it is described. The National Institute of Mental Health says that a preliminary conversation can help someone understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. The source does not make that conversation a guarantee of fit.
Reflection Questions for Considering Mindfulness Programs
| Question for reflection | Question to ask an offering or provider |
|---|---|
| Am I looking for mindful meditation, discussion, strategies for stressful experiences, or a combination? | What components are included in this program or service? |
| What do I mean when I use the phrase “stressful experiences”? | How does the program describe applying learning to stressful experiences? |
| What information would help me understand the meditation practice? | How is meditation or mindfulness described in the offering? |
| Am I considering a named approach? | Is this described as mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or something else? |
| What remains unclear after reading the available description? | What questions can you answer about the approach and what it includes? |
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- What services does Rooted Integrative Therapy offer?
- How is individual therapy described by the practice?
- What questions can I ask to understand a service’s approach?
- Is information available about the approaches used in a particular service?
- If I am interested in mindfulness programs or mindfulness meditation, where can I find information about available options?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can mindfulness-based stress reduction include discussion as well as meditation?
Yes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that mindfulness-based stress reduction teaches mindful meditation and includes discussion sessions. The source does not say that every mindfulness program includes discussion.
Can mindfulness-based stress reduction address stressful experiences?
The source describes mindfulness-based stress reduction as including strategies to help people apply learning to stressful experiences. It does not specify the strategies used by every program or the result for an individual participant.
Can psychotherapy include meditation?
The National Institute of Mental Health says psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. These are possible elements, not elements of every therapy service.
Does this article establish that Rooted Integrative Therapy offers mindfulness-based stress reduction?
No. The verified practice facts list the practice’s services but do not identify mindfulness-based stress reduction or mindfulness meditation as a practice service or modality.
What is known about contacting Rooted Integrative Therapy?
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form. Its FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- nccih.nih.gov: Meditation And Mindfulness Effectiveness And Safety
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
A Grounded Next Step
Rooted Integrative Therapy identifies Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, as its therapist. The practice offers in-person services near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests, and its FAQs describe a consultation call as a first step for asking questions and considering fit.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.
This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for individualized mental-health care. A qualified mental-health professional can help you consider what fits your circumstances.