Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
CFT aims to foster emotional and mental healing. Individuals are helped toward a more compassionate approach toward themselves and others.
It is a comparatively new psychotherapeutic approach developed in the early 21st century and integrates various schools of psychological support, as well as philosophy.
CFT proposes that relating to the self and others with compassion is necessary for mental, and emotional health, and wellbeing. CFT therapy draws from multiple models, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), developmental, social, and evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, neurobiology, and Buddhism.
According to CFT, humans developed three basic emotion regulation and affect systems: the threat and self-protection system, the drive and excitement system, and the contentment and social safeness system. Our ancestors had to learn how to survive by avoiding or overcoming threats, they were tasked with the acquisition of resources, and knew the benefits of being part of a social community. CFT theory suggests that these systems are still in force and impact our beliefs, emotions, and behaviour.
Treatment involves learning about how these systems interact with thought and behaviour, with the goal of achieving balance between the systems. One of the chief aims is to train the mind to help develop safeness, inner warmth, soothing, via compassion and self-compassion. CFT therapy is often integrated with other approaches like person centred therapy (PCT) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
The main technique of CFT therapy is compassionate mind training (CMT). This involves being compassionate toward the self and others. Through specific training and exercises clients are guided to improve their ability to sympathise, tolerate distress, foster sensitivity, and nurture compassionate motivation toward a non-judging and non-criticising mindset.
This involves appreciation exercises and activities like making a list of likes, noticing and savouring positive experiences, and focusing on what one enjoys. Another technique used is Mindfulness, this teaches clients how to be present in a non-judgemental way.
Compassion-focused imagery exercises, or guided memories and fantasies offer a relational image that stimulates the soothing system via the mental and physiological systems. Our CFT therapists will assist you with understanding the origins and function of self-attacks, as well as the reasons why one might agree with the criticism, to better understand it.
Any blockages one experiences in relation to expressing compassion will also be explored in order to address and overcome them. CFT is often concluded within 6 and 15 sessions. We recommend 50-minute sessions on a weekly basis.
- A healing therapy, designed to foster compassion for self and others for improved wellbeing
- Reach contentment. As you learn to increase your awareness for compassion and understand the systems that determine your behaviour, you’re able to gain better control of your day to day life and long term success
- Integrative therapy, leveraging on multiple psychological theories
- Deeper understanding of internal systems and responses
- Compassion based – Learn to foster kindness and warmth instead of harsh judgment and criticism, this is particularly useful if these traits are not facilitated by your personal history, because of neglect, for example
- Warm and kind therapeutic approach, thought to activate the attachment system
- Fear and avoidance of self-compassion are accepted and validated by your therapist, and worked through
- Develop your inner spiritual self
- Remove a limiting blocking mindset by removing shame and self criticism
CFT therapy was originally established to help individuals work through issues of self-loathing, criticism, and shame, and therefore especially useful for those who are unable to express self-compassion.
Other issues that CFT can work with include depression, anxiety, disordered eating, anger, self-harm, and psychosis. For others CFT may not be the most useful approach, however as it is often integrated alongside other approaches (for example, CBT, PCT, etc), it can complement.
We offer CFT therapy in Birmingham. Phinity Therapy also serve other cities and countries through our network of qualified therapists. Online therapy is also available, catering for those who cannot reach our clinic or have busy schedules.
Make a commitment to taking control and living the life you want and deserve. Start by booking your Free Initial Consultation Today and speak to one of our friendly principal therapists about your concerns and desired goals.
You can alternatively fill in our contact form located on our About Us page, or give us a call.
*Due to limited time slot availability caused by high demand, we now offer only one Free Initial Consultation for prospective clients, further conversations are charged at our normal rate.
We are proud to connect you with highly experienced practitioners who can help with almost any psychological issue.
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