Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is one of the so-called third-wave CBT therapies; as such, they retain core aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. However, this approach focuses on the process, context, and function of how people relate to their inner experiences rather than the content of these experiences.

Compassion-Focused Therapy is informed by social psychology, developmental psychology, evolution, neuroscience, and Buddhist philosophy. Compassion-Focused Therapy is shown to be particularly helpful if you are experiencing high levels of self-criticism and shame.

How Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) works?

In practice, Compassion-Focused Therapy aims to develop a self-soothing system or a compassionate mind which can be drawn on to cope with life’s difficulties.

Compassion is a very powerful emotion that can help us change our negative thought patterns. The brain is equipped to create protective emotions, such as anxiety and anger, as well as more soothing ones, such as compassion and kindness. However, we might need help in learning to activate the more soothing part of the brain.

One of the central theories behind Compassion-Focused Therapy is that we have different internal ‘systems’ that are intertwined with each other. These systems need to be balanced for excellent mental health. These systems in our brain are called:

• The Threat System is the system that endeavours to protect us and, thus, will be looking out for potential threats. This system will produce anxiety, anger and other feelings that can prepare us for a fight.

• The Drive System is the system our brain activates to motivate us to engage in different activities. This system is responsible for motivating us to meet our basic needs and the system that encourages us to achieve our goals. This system will produce feelings like excitement and pleasure.

• The Contentment System is the system that is triggered in the absence of threat and when you are not focused on moving towards any achievement. This system will produce feelings that make us feel calm, relaxed, and safe, contributing to the experience of feeling happy, connected and content.

Thus, Compassion-Focused Therapy aims to create a healthy balance between these systems, promoting emotion regulation.

Benefits of Compassion-Focused Therapy

Compassion-Focused Therapy is proven effective and helpful in treating difficulties such as deep feelings of guilt and shame, past experiences of bullying, emotional abuse, powerful and constant inner criticism, and difficulties in treating themselves with kindness and compassion; thus, helping individuals with following difficulties:

• Anger

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Low Self-Esteem

• Narcissistic emotional abuse and other types of abuse

• Panic Attacks

• Trauma

• Childhood trauma

• Low Self-Confidence

• Self-Criticism

• Feelings of Guilt and Shame

Please get in touch with us to learn more about Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) or schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.