Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based group program specifically developed to prevent relapse in people with recurrent depression. It uniquely combines techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with mindfulness practices drawn from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). The core aim is to help participants develop a new relationship with challenging thoughts and feelings that can trigger depressive episodes. Rather than trying to change the content of negative thoughts directly (as in traditional CBT), MBCT teaches skills to recognize and disengage from habitual, unhelpful thinking patterns like rumination through cultivating non-judgmental, present-moment awareness. Typically delivered over eight weekly sessions plus a day-long retreat, the program involves guided mindfulness meditations (including body scans, sitting meditation, mindful movement), group discussions exploring experiences, and psychoeducation on depression and mindfulness. Participants learn to observe thoughts and sensations as transient events, reducing reactivity and fostering greater emotional balance. MBCT is strongly supported by research for reducing relapse rates in recurrent depression and is recommended in clinical guidelines.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an 8-week, evidence-based group program designed to help people manage stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and illness using mindfulness meditation. Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, MBSR teaches participants to cultivate non-judgmental awareness of their moment-to-moment experiences, including thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. The program involves intensive training in core mindfulness practices: the body scan meditation, mindful Hatha yoga (gentle movement), and sitting meditation. Participants also learn to apply mindfulness informally in daily life. Each weekly session (typically 2.5-3 hours) includes guided practice, group discussion ('inquiry') about participants' experiences, and educational content on stress physiology and mindful coping. A key component is daily home practice (around 45-60 minutes) using guided recordings. MBSR aims to help individuals tap into their inner resources for healing and stress management by changing their relationship to challenging experiences, fostering resilience, acceptance, and overall well-being. It is a secular program widely used in healthcare and community settings.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a person-centered, guiding method of communication and counseling designed to strengthen an individual's intrinsic motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by exploring and resolving ambivalence about change. Developed by Miller and Rollnick, it contrasts with directive or confrontational approaches, instead emphasizing collaboration, acceptance, compassion, and evoking the client's own ideas (the 'spirit' of MI: PACE). MI utilizes specific skills known as OARS (Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) to facilitate a conversation focused on the client's own reasons, desires, abilities, and needs for change ('change talk'). The core process involves engaging the client, focusing on a target behavior, evoking their motivation, and planning concrete steps once readiness emerges. MI is highly effective for individuals uncertain or resistant to change and is widely used across health care, mental health, addiction treatment, and social service settings to address behaviors like substance use, medication adherence, diet, exercise, and more. It is an evidence-based practice known for enhancing client engagement and promoting positive behavior change.

Narrative Therapy is a collaborative and respectful approach to counseling developed by Michael White and David Epston, rooted in postmodern and social constructionist ideas. Its central tenet is that identities are shaped by the stories people tell about their lives, and problems arise when these stories become dominated by negative or limiting narratives. A key principle is "The person is not the problem; the problem is the problem," which leads to the technique of 'externalizing conversations'—talking about the problem as if it were separate from the individual. Therapists work collaboratively with clients to explore the influence of the problem on their lives and, importantly, to uncover 'unique outcomes' or moments when the problem did not hold sway. These exceptions serve as starting points for 're-authoring' conversations, where clients develop alternative, preferred narratives based on their values, skills, and hopes. Techniques like therapeutic letter writing and involving outsider witnesses may be used to 'thicken' these new stories. The therapist acts as a co-author, emphasizing the client's expertise and agency. Narrative therapy is effective for diverse issues and populations, empowering individuals to reshape their relationship with problems.