Hypnosis and Mindfulness: The Twain Finally Meet

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation (or simply mindfulness) is an ancient method of attention training. Arguably, developed originally by the Buddha, it has been practiced by Buddhists over 2,500 years as part of their spiritual training. The popularity in mindfulness has soared recently following its adaptation as Mindfulness-Based Stress Management by Jon Kabat-Zinn (1995). Mindfulness is often compared to hypnosis but not all assertions are accurate. This article, as a primer, delineates similarities and dissimilarities between mindfulness and hypnosis in terms of 12 specific facets, including putative neuroscientific findings. It also provides a case example that illustrates clinical integration of the two methods.

Keywords:

• Buddhist meditation
• hypnosis
• mindfulness
• neuroscience

Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges Dr. Marion P. Kostka for his thorough review of an earlier version of this article. The author alone is responsible for the content of this work.