Peaceful Mind: Using Mindfulness & Cognitive Behavioral Psychology to Overcome Depression

I have to say upfront that I have read and practiced numerous methods/variations of mindfulness meditation. However, none have struck just the right chord with me. Peaceful Mind opened up a new door for me and allowed me to deal with my obsessive thoughts with the ultimately practical tools of CBT and Mindfulness. I can honestly say that that marriage changed my life. Peace, Brett

You might think that this is yet another book on mindfulness. Or, if you are into mindfulness based therapies, you may assume that this is yet another book that covers the "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" (MBSR, a la Kabat-Zinn) or "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy" (MBCT, a la Segal, Williams and Teasdale). In fact this book is unique, and doesn't really fit in the same mold as MBSR and MBCT. Here's what I believe are the key elements: 1) EXCELLENT INTRO TO COGNITIVE THERAPY. I believe that this book contains an excellent introduction to cognitive therapy, and it can probably be used even if you aren't interested in mindfulness per se. McQuaid is a master instructor when it comes to cognitive therapy, and it shows in this book. He has an approach that is similar to Beck and others, but he has his own unique, helpful style. So I think this is an excellent resource for clients and clinicians. (Carmona is a well-established therapist in her own right, so I imagine that she contributed to the cognitive component of the book, too). 2) CONCISE, PRACTICAL INTRO TO MINDFULNESS. The introduction to mindfulness is simple and elegant, and (if I understand correctly) informed primarily by Carmona's long-standing mindfulness practice. The style here differs noticably from the writing styles of Kabat-Zinn, Santorelli, Segal and many others. The details of the approach are laid out in a very accessible, descriptive manner, without ambiguity. (I'm a fan of these other authors and their approaches, too. I'm simply pointing out that this book's style and feel is unique.) 3) SOME INTEGRATION OF THE COGNITIVE AND MINDFULNESS-BASED APPROACHES. If you are looking for a seamless integration of the two approaches, you might be a little disappointed. The authors do discuss the combination of the two approaches, but they do not attempt an extensive integration. I'm not sure that clients need to work hard to integrate the two approaches, so this is not a complaint. Those seeking more theory, research, or spiritual training in mindfulness will need to look elsewhere. I've been collaborating with McQuaid for a couple years since this book was released, so I'm biased! If you are thinking about pursuing a mindfulness-based approach, it is probably best to commit to spending a certain amount of time each day to the practice. It is also advisable to find a group and mentors who can guide you along your path. You don't have to pursue this path with psychotherapists, and you don't have to spend large amounts of money to pursue this. You don't need lots of books on the topic of mindfulness, either. But make sure that you find a mentor or therapist or group or spiritual leader that you trust. I suppose that it is possible to do this work on your own (as described in Lawrence LeShan's book on meditation), but it is harder.

Peaceful Mind is a wonderful new sourcebook for people struggling with depression. McQuaid and Carmona present mindfulness techniques with cognitive behavioral strategies in a coherent, easy-to-use guide. Their approach is as valuable in the acute phase of depression as in the recovery period. I will recommend this book to my depressed clients.

I have been meditating for a number of years but had never conceptualized my practice in the context of my moods. I am finding Peaceful Mind's simple and direct writing useful in helping me understand how I can integrate mindfulness with understanding my inner patterns. I also am an art therapist and will recommend this book to my clients, many of whom suffer with depression. The authors have provided us with a down-to-earth tool that is accessible and easy to use.

Unlike so many other books of this type, this one resonates with the voice of experience and the sharing of fruitful inquiry. Not smarmy, not New Age, these authors have obviously spent decades researching and testing treatments for debilitating psychological problems; they have transformed their life work into a book which reflects this. It is a relief to read a book on this topic which does not require the suspension of disbelief or any exhausting exercises to achieve the goal of greater peace of mind.