Session: An Introduction to Compassion-Focused Therapy
Clinical Intervention Training 2 - An Introduction to Compassion-focused Therapy
Thursday, November 16, 2023
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PST
Location: Skykomish (604), Level 6
Earn 7 Credit
Keywords: Compassion, Treatment, Psychotherapy Process Recommended Readings: Craig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A. (2020). Compassion focused therapy: a systematic review of
its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1746184, Kolts, R.L., Bell, T., Irons, C., & Bennett-Levy, J. (2018). Experiencing Compassion-Focused Therapy from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Manual for Practitioners. New York: Guilford., Gilbert, P. (2020). Compassion: From its evolution to a psychotherapy. Frontiers in Psychology,
11, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586161, Gilbert, P., & Simos, G. (2021). Compassion focused therapy: Clinical practice and applications. Routledge., Kolts, R.L., Bell, T., Irons, C., & Bennett-Levy, J. (2018). Experiencing Compassion-Focused Therapy from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Manual for Practitioners. New York: Guilford.
Professor of Psychology Eastern Washington University Spokane Valley, Washington
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is a form of cognitive-behavior therapy that draws upon contextual behavioral science, evolution science, affective neuroscience, and attachment theory in assisting individuals who suffer with emotional difficulties. Utilizing the purposeful cultivation of compassion, mindfulness, and a host of treatment strategies such as imagery, chair-work, breath-body work, and behavioral and thought experiments, CFT is a transdiagnostic therapy developed to assist clients who struggle with issues of shame and self-criticism. In this training, participants will learn an operational definition of compassion and why it can be a helpful component of psychotherapy. We’ll introduce a behaviorally-based framework for approaching CFT, and participants will learn a way of organizing CFT into a set of layered processes and practices that will allow them to systematically understand, train, and begin to implement the practices of CFT. We’ll explore the therapeutic relationship in CFT, the role of modeling and shaping in applying compassion-work in therapy, and participants will gain exposure to a number of core CFT concepts and we’ll explore how to implement them through experiential practice. Ultimately, the goal of the workshop is to provide therapists of all behaviorally-oriented modalities tools they can use to help clients overcome avoidance and shame.
Outline: • What is compassion and why is it important in psychotherapy? • A behavioral framework for approaching compassion in CFT • Layered Processes and Practices • The Therapeutic Relationship in CFT • Facilitating Compassionate Realizations • Mindfulness in CFT • An Introduction to Compassionate Self Work
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
Describe an operational definition of compassion and how it can be useful in helping psychotherapy clients.
Articulate a behaviorally-oriented model of how to integrate compassion work into psychotherapy.
Describe the roles of the therapist in Compassion-Focused Therapy.
Describe the three-systems model of emotion.
Guide clients in exploring the ways that different motives and emotions organize their mental experience.
Describe the acting approach taken to compassionate-self work in CFT.
Long-Term Goals: Integrate a compassion-focus into existing therapeutic approach.
Long-Term Goals: Facilitate client shifts from avoidance to responsibility-taking.