This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness on early maladaptive schemas and stress in the elderly in Gorgan city. The present study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group.  It was applied in terms of purpose. The research sample was 40 elderly people from daily centers of Gorgan city who were selected by purposive sampling method among whom 20 people were assigned to the experimental group (10 sessions of schema therapy and 8 sessions of mindfulness) and 20 people in the control group, randomly. Participants completed the Young Schema Questionnaire (75-item form) and the Lazarus-Folkman Stress Coping Strategies Scale (66-item). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Findings showed that schema therapy and mindfulness training was effective on early maladaptive schemas and stress in the elderly (p>0/00). There was no significant difference between the two approaches of schema therapy and mind-based therapy on early maladaptive schemas and both approaches had the same positive effect. However, in terms of stress, there was a significant difference and mindfulness had a greater effect on the stress level of the elderly.