Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Learning to respond to difficulty, and to yourself, with more warmth and less threat.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is one of the ‘third wave’ CBT approaches, building on traditional CBT with ideas from mindfulness, evolutionary psychology and neuroscience. It was developed by Professor Paul Gilbert for people who struggle with harsh self-criticism and shame.
Many of us have an inner critic that we hope will keep us on track, but which can leave us feeling anxious, ashamed and exhausted. CFT helps you to understand why your mind works this way, and to develop a steadier, kinder way of relating to yourself and to what you are facing. Compassion here is not about being soft or letting yourself off the hook. It is about having the courage to turn towards difficulty and the wisdom to respond helpfully.
What CFT involves
- Understanding how our minds have evolved to be sensitive to threat, and why this is not your fault
- Noticing the inner critic and where it comes from
- Learning calming and grounding practices to settle the body
- Developing a compassionate voice and a compassionate way of responding to yourself
- Using imagery and writing exercises
- Applying these skills to the situations you find hardest
Who CFT can help
CFT is particularly helpful where shame, self-criticism, perfectionism or a sense of never being good enough are part of the picture. It is often used alongside CBT for anxiety, low mood, burnout and trauma.
How I work with CFT
I draw on CFT alongside other approaches, depending on what will help most. Many people are cautious at first about the idea of self-compassion. We take this gently and at your pace, and you are never asked to do anything that does not feel right.
Related areas of support
Take the first step
Contact me here to find out more information or to arrange a free consultation.