Compassion Focused Therapy

Paul Gilbert is Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Derby and has been actively involved in research and treating people with shame-based and mood disorders for over 30 years. He is a past President of the British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapy and a fellow of the British Psychological Society and has been developing CFT for twenty years.

• Part I: Theory: Understanding the Model. Some Basics. A Personal Journey. The Evolved Mind and Compassion Focused Therapy. Multi-mind. Attachment and the Importance of Affection. Affect Regulation: The Three Affect-regulation Systems, Caring and CFT. Affiliation, Warmth and Affection. Clarifying the CFT Approach. Formulation. Shame. Self-criticism. Distinguishing Shame, Guilt and Humiliation: Responsibility vs. Self-critical Blaming. Distinguishing Compassionate Self-correction from Shame-based, Self-attacking. Threat and the Compensations of Achievement. Part II: Compassion Practice. Understanding Soothing: The Wider Context of Balancing Affect-regulation Systems. The Nature of Compassion. Preparing and Training One’s Mind: Mindfulness and Soothing Breathing Rhythm. Introducing Imagery. Creating a Safe Place. Varieties of Compassion Focused Imagery. Developing the Compassionate Self. Compassionate Chair Work. Focusing of the Compassionate Self. Compassion Flowing Out. Compassion Flowing into Oneself: Using Memory. Compassion Flowing into Oneself: Compassionate Images. Compassionate Letter Writing. Compassion and Well-being Enhancing. Fear of Compassion. Last Thoughts.

"This is an important book for all professions in the caring services, not just those who will be practicing or benefiting from compassion focused therapy."- Peter Gilbert, Review of the Month, British Journal of Wellbeing, Vol. 1 No. 8, November 2010