Good Afternoon!
What does compassion mean to you? What does the word compassion make you think of? A theory based on compassion has been expanding within psychotherapy practices. In this article, we’ll collaborate with a mental health nonprofit in Paris, France, to take a deeper look at Compassion-Focused Therapy.
What is Compassion-Based Therapy?
Compassion-Focused Therapy, or CFT, was proposed by Paul Gilbert in the United Kingdom and is notably carried by Pascal Delamillieure and Francis Gheysen in France. This therapy is multidimensional: it is based both on cognitive-behavioral therapies (therapies supported by a scientific approach) but also on evolutionary psychology (based on the theory of evolution), Buddhist philosophy (includes meditation practices), and neuroscience (study of the nervous system).
Compassion-Focused Therapy is primarily for people who feel sadness and self-criticism, often stemming from abuse, harassment, or emotional shortcomings. CFT offers emotional safety and focuses on more positive thoughts, such as compassion and self-care.
The goal is to transform someone’s mind. An example is taking someone from ”I know it’s not my fault, but I still feel guilty” to “I am loved for who I am.”
Individual or group, the objectives of this therapy are as follows:
- Find soothing strategies
- Access a position of safety
- Take a caring look at oneself instead of shame and self-criticism
What is Compassion?
For Paul Gilbert, compassion is the ”development of sensitivity to one’s own suffering, or the suffering of others, and a deep commitment to try to solve or prevent it.”
Good news, compassion is cultivated! In CFT, it is seen as a set of specific attributes that are worked on. The skills related to compassion are as follows:
Wellness-seeking: the motivation to alleviate distress;
Sensitivity: being able to recognize the emotions and needs of the target person of compassion
Sympathy: being emotionally affected by that person’s feelings and suffering;
Tolerance of distress: being able to tolerate pretty intense levels of emotion rather than avoiding them;
Empathy: feeling and understanding the person’s emotions and thoughts.
Please remember, you can use compassion to help someone else or help yourself…
Keep going!
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