Compassion Focused Therapy

Paul Gilbert is Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Derby and has been actively involved in research and treating people with shame-based and mood disorders for over 30 years. He is a past President of the British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapy and a fellow of the British Psychological Society and has been developing CFT for twenty years.

Part I: Theory: Understanding the Model. Some Basics. A Personal Journey. The Evolved Mind and Compassion Focused Therapy. Multi-mind. Attachment and the Importance of Affection. Affect Regulation: The Three Affect-regulation Systems, Caring and CFT. Affiliation, Warmth and Affection. Clarifying the CFT Approach. Formulation. Shame. Self-criticism. Distinguishing Shame, Guilt and Humiliation: Responsibility vs. Self-critical Blaming. Distinguishing Compassionate Self-correction from Shame-based, Self-attacking. Threat and the Compensations of Achievement. Part II: Compassion Practice. Understanding Soothing: The Wider Context of Balancing Affect-regulation Systems. The Nature of Compassion. Preparing and Training One’s Mind: Mindfulness and Soothing Breathing Rhythm. Introducing Imagery. Creating a Safe Place. Varieties of Compassion Focused Imagery. Developing the Compassionate Self. Compassionate Chair Work. Focusing of the Compassionate Self. Compassion Flowing Out. Compassion Flowing into Oneself: Using Memory. Compassion Flowing into Oneself: Compassionate Images. Compassionate Letter Writing. Compassion and Well-being Enhancing. Fear of Compassion. Last Thoughts.