One of the trends in counseling is the use of “mindfulness.” This sounds compatible with biblical discipleship (such as the need to “renew your mind, Rom. 12:2, etc.), but a closer examination of the philosophy and practice of mindfulness reveals that it is contrary to Christ Centered Counseling.
Dr. Joanna Jackson wrote an excellent article on this topic in The Journal of Biblical Counseling. Here are some excerpts:
Mindfulness has become a buzzword in our modern Western world. It appears on the cover of magazines, in the news, on bestseller lists. It is a go-to treatment in the therapy room, and it is heralded in schools, the military, and businesses alike. It is the antidote to everything from daily worry to clinical depression. Celebrities swear by it, neuroscientists study it, monks practice it, and psychologists are trained in it. And with good reason. An increasing body of research attests measurable benefits for a wide range of physical disorders and psychological distresses. Something in mindfulness is resonating deeply.
In addition to its popularity in the wider world, it has received an increasing level of commitment and following from many Christians who testify to the benefit that mindfulness has been to their own faith, and who recommend its use in therapy and counseling. At the same time, many Christians remain skeptical and cautious about mindfulness, both for themselves and in their roles helping others. So what are we to make of mindfulness? What is it really about? What should we be wary of, and to what degree can we benefit from the insights that mindfulness provides?[1]
See a summary of her article here: Mindfulness_article
A Biblical view of mindfulness would include Scriptures such as these:
“You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3,4 ESV
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” ESV
Dr. Jackson summarized her analysis of secular/Buddhist “mindfulness” in psychotherapy:
Although mindfulness practice contains some common-grace wisdom, we must not be naive in thinking it is easy to engage in mindfulness meditation in a non-Buddhist way. It is incredibly difficult to divorce the techniques of mindfulness from its metaphysical framework. In light of this challenge, I do not advocate “Christian mindfulness,” or efforts to Christianize mindfulness practices for use in counseling. Rather, it is more prudent to let the mindfulness revolution spur Christians on to revive and more fully realize the contemplative resources for living well that are already contained within centuries-old Christian practices.
We have a rich heritage that can teach us the discipline of biblical meditation, psalm-like reflection on our inner lives, the importance of embracing the present moment as God’s precious children, and the need for silence and solitude. Having support for how to do these things in the current context of our individual lives and church communities would be of great value. Herein lies the possibility for developing further resources that are tailored to the challenges our culture presents and the individual struggles that we face.” [1]
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[1] Joanna Jackson, Journal of Biblical Counseling 33:1 (2019): 25–45. http://www.CCEF.org
[2] For a good downloadable booklet that compares Biblical meditation with eastern meditation, see https://comeandreason.com/meditation-guide/ (Note: Dr. Tim Jennings is a Seventh Day Adventist psychiatrist and author.)
Bracketed content added, J.B.W.
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