Assignment 1: Synopsis of Video Lecture

Jay Jalali

Yorkville University

PSYC 6163: Counselling Methodologies - Behavioural and Cognitive Modalities

Dr. Kevin Feisthamel

January 24th, 2020

 Synopsis of Video Lecture

This synopsis explains and discusses the key points of a lecture by Dr Stuart Eisendrath, who is a

Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Director of the UCSF Depression Center. In this lecture he explores

alternatives to treating depression with cognitive mindfulness-based therapy, a technique that blends

mindfulness meditation and cognitive therapy techniques to lessen depression, particularly in individuals

with recurrent episodes.

General Background

Dr Stuart states that mindfulness can be defined in various ways, however the most common

definition is explained as; paying purposeful, non judgemental attention in a particular way, by focusing

on the present moment, letting go of the past and future, and coming to awareness of the present (UCTV,

2012). Dr. Eisendrath likens mindfulness to identifying mental pain the same way as physical pain, in

that, noticing and observing the presence of pain, does not mean we always identify it as good or bad

(UCTV, 2012) .

Up until the lecture in 2012, mindfulness had been used for a variety of conditions such as stress

reduction, pain, psoriasis, eating disorders, fibromyalgia pain, cancer, labour pain, anxiety, depression,

bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. While a lot of the mindfulness-based treatments were

not widely developed and were still experimental, they are all still moving forward, with the most

developed treatment being MBCT (UCTV, 2012).

Key Points

A first major point explained is that research showed that 8 weeks of mindfulness-based training

helps people with depression to stop ruminating or continuously think about a situation, which essentially

drives depression (UCTV, 2012). Additional research showed that mindfulness is different from other

forms of psychotherapy as it doesn’t aim to fix the reason or question the ruminating, but an attempt to

decentre and distance sufferers from thoughts and feelings (UCTV, 2012).

Next, the analogy of pop corn thoughts arising during depression and naturally latching on to

them as true, is a way of being tricked (UCTV, 2012). The idea is that mindfulness allows the space
between viewing thoughts objectively, as unintentional mental occurrences stemming from depression,

and hence offering oneself more self compassion to separate from them (UCTV, 2012).

Finally, the neuropsychology explanation of abnormalities in brain functioning for people

suffering rom depression and regulation that occurs from affective processing, relates to decision making,

reasoning and memory functions. The results show how MBCT training energizes areas of the brain that

restores attentional and emotional regulation control (UCTV, 2012).

Opinion Section

Pros

The use of empirical clinical research and well summarised explanations of studies allowed the

neuropsychology rationale behind the use of mindfulness-based treatments for depression, to be positively

demonstrated and received. Relatable behavioural examples and explanations point to the ease of

understanding the biopsychosocial links between psychological disorder outcomes and how mindfulness

techniques differ from other forms of therapy and treatments. Finally, Inviting the audience to practice the

mindfulness exercise even briefly was an effective way to connect the ideas he was trying to advocate.

Cons

The use of Buddhism meditative principles that were linked to the form and effectiveness of

clinical mindfulness based practices , seemed ambiguous and poorly researched for comparison. Next, the

neurological explanations of the brain functioning, and technicalities were highly advanced for non

psychiatric based comprehension in certain areas. This prevented more in-depth critical thinking about

depression and psychological concepts being discussed due to lack of fundamental medical science

verification of the ideas.

 References
University of California Television (UCTV). (2012, May 31). Applying mindfulness-based

cognitive therapy to treatment [Video file]. Retrieved

from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eQ3MWz4yrI