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When your mind won't slow down

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Across The North East

A therapy that combines mindfulness practice with cognitive techniques to help you step back from racing thoughts and manage difficult emotions.

  • 44 Practitioners
  • 6 North East clinics
  • Free First Pathway call

How it works

For minds that get caught in cycles.

MBCT typically runs as an eight session programme. Each session introduces a core mindfulness practice (body scanning, breath focus, mindful movement) alongside cognitive exercises that help you recognise early warning signs of emotional distress.

Between sessions, you practise the techniques at home using guided recordings and written materials. This regular practice is what creates lasting change: the brain learns new ways of relating to difficult thoughts rather than falling back into familiar reactive patterns.

Progress is reviewed throughout the programme. For some people, MBCT forms part of a longer course of therapy; for others, the eight session structure is complete in itself. Your psychologist will discuss what is most appropriate for your situation.

Supportive therapy session illustrating mindfulness-based work at Select Psychology

What MBCT can help with

Patterns of mind, not just moments of difficulty.

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Recurrent low mood

  • Chronic stress

  • Panic disorder

  • Rumination and worry

  • Sleep difficulties

  • Chronic pain

  • Shame and self-criticism

  • Emotional dysregulation

How the match is made

The right MBCT therapist, matched with care

Our Pathway Team takes the time to understand what you're going through before matching you with a practitioner who has the right Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) expertise, experience, and availability. A well-matched therapist helps you get the most from the structured, mindful approach of MBCT.

  1. 01

    Initial assessment

    Your first appointment explores your history, current difficulties, and what you are hoping to achieve. Your psychologist will explain MBCT in detail and confirm it is the right approach for you.

  2. 02

    Eight-session programme

    Sessions are typically weekly, each building on the last. You will be introduced to core mindfulness practices and cognitive skills, with home practice materials provided between sessions.

  3. 03

    Home practice

    Regular practice between sessions is central to MBCT. Your psychologist provides guided recordings and written exercises, and each session begins by reviewing what you noticed during home practice.

  4. 04

    Relapse prevention plan

    In the final sessions, you and your psychologist create a personalised plan for maintaining your practice and recognising early warning signs, so you have the tools to manage future difficulties independently.

Practitioner fit

Is MBCT right for me?

MBCT is particularly well suited for people whose difficulties are maintained by patterns of thinking (rumination, worry, self-criticism) rather than a single event or acute crisis.

Signs it could be right for you

  • You have had two or more episodes of depression
  • Anxiety keeps pulling you into worry about the future
  • You get caught in self critical thinking patterns
  • You want a skill based approach to managing your mind

A simple first move

Not sure where to start? Talk it through with the Pathway Team.

Request a callback

Who you might work with

Practitioners who offer this

Browse the full team, or let the Pathway Team match you.

Where we offer this

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) across the North East

Select Psychology Tynemouth clinic, coastal view

Tynemouth

1 Tynemouth Road, NE30 4AY

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Select Psychology Newcastle Gosforth clinic

Newcastle

The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Regent Centre, NE3 3PF

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Also available all locations.

Explore related care

Conditions, clinics and related therapies

Conditions this helps with

Related therapies

Fees and insurance

Clear fees, and most major insurers accepted

No GP referral is needed. If you are using private medical insurance, tell the Pathway Team when you get in touch and they will help with authorisation.

Session fees

  • Relationship therapy£95
  • Specialist psychological therapy£110
  • Clinical & counselling psychology£140
  • Psychological assessmentsfrom £350
Insurers accepted

Bupa · Aviva · AXA · Allianz · Simply Health · Vita Health Group

Questions before you start

What people usually ask

1 What is the difference between mindfulness and MBCT?

Mindfulness is a general practice of present-moment awareness. MBCT is a structured, clinical programme that uses mindfulness alongside cognitive therapy techniques, specifically designed to address patterns of thinking that maintain emotional difficulties. It is delivered by trained clinicians rather than mindfulness teachers alone.

2 Do I need to meditate every day?

Daily home practice is an important part of MBCT, typically 20 to 45 minutes. Your psychologist will support you in building a sustainable practice and will discuss any difficulties you encounter. Even shorter periods of practice are valuable, and the programme is designed to fit around everyday life.

3 Is MBCT suitable if I have never meditated before?

Yes. No prior experience of meditation is needed. MBCT introduces all practices from the beginning, and your psychologist will guide you through each one in session before you practise independently at home.

4 How is MBCT different from other talking therapies?

Most talking therapies work primarily through conversation. MBCT places equal weight on experiential practice: the formal mindfulness exercises done within and between sessions. The aim is to change your relationship to thoughts and feelings, not just to understand them differently.

From the blog

Read more before you decide

What Happens in a CBT Session? A Step-by-Step Guide

A CBT session typically starts with a brief check-in, followed by a discussion about your current challenges, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Your therapist will help you identify unhelpful thinking patterns, develop practical coping strategies, and set a small action plan to practise between sessions. Most CBT sessions last around 50 minutes and are focused on helping you achieve specific mental health goals.

Select Psychology Team · 23 Jan 2026

Read article

The Step-by-Step Guide to the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Process

The cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) process typically involves an initial assessment, setting therapy goals, identifying unhelpful thought patterns, learning practical coping strategies, and applying new skills between sessions. CBT is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people manage anxiety, depression, stress, phobias, and other mental health challenges by changing negative thinking and behaviours.

Select Psychology Team · 9 Jan 2026

Read article

Get in touch

Ready to feel heard?

Leave your details and a member of our Pathway Team will be in touch, usually within one working day. Or call us directly on 0191 258 0008.

  • Confidential and judgement-free
  • No obligation, no pressure to book
  • No GP referral needed
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