What is CFT?

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is often referred to as a 3rd Wave CBT Therapy, but is in fact a completely separate approach to mental health issues.

CFT is an integrative evidence-based psychotherapy devised by eminent psychologist Paul Gilbert: it draws upon CBT, evolutionary, social, developmental and Buddhist psychologies, along with biology and neuroscience. It also uses concepts from Gestalt, Psychodynamic and Jungian approaches.

CFT is particularly effective for working with anger, sadness, shame, anxiety and self-criticism. CFT focuses on helping you to understand the 3 main motivational and emotion regulation systems of the brain - threat, drive and soothe - and how to balance these systems so their emotional impact no longer trips you up.

CFT works extensively with compassionate imagery and body based exercises to train the mind in compassion. CFT can be a useful approach for people who find other psychological approaches too “heady” and lacking in attention to the emotions and body.

I have trained in advanced clinical skills with Paul Gilbert and others based in The Compassionate Mind Foundation. I also have extensive experience of the Lojong and Tonglen traditions of compassion focused mindfulness. I use the CFT approach frequently when working with anger, shame and trauma.

OTHER THERAPIES OFFERED:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - CBT
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy - ACT
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy - MBCT
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - MBSR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing - EMDR