Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that draws upon our evolved capacity for compassion and self-compassion to facilitate the alleviation of human suffering. CFT is especially useful for people experiencing low self-esteem, low self-worth, shame and who may have a harsh inner critic.
What is Compassion Focused Therapy
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based therapy (studies show that it is effective in improving the psychological well-being of people experiencing depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, psychosis and other forms of psychological distress. CFT is especially useful for people experiencing low self-esteem, low self-worth, shame and who may have a harsh inner critic.
What is compassionate forgiveness?
The most essential part of forgiveness is letting go of anger desires for retaliation and vengeance. This is partly because holding these in mind is bad for our bodies and brains.
Compassionate Forgiveness:
- is not condoning a behaviour of somebody else
- is not necessarily reconciliation with the other person (it could be safer to maintain distance, or the other person might not be alive anymore)
- is not something that we do “for others” but it’s something that we do for ourselves – it’s a process that can help you release our anger and our rumination.
- Forgive and forget, is not the deal.
- Forgive, but don’t like, but letting go of vengeance. Not forgetting what was done to you. People think I won’t be hurt anymore. This is not the case.
- Forgiveness for people does not mean you have to be friends with that person.
- Re-frame it in this way, “you hurt me, and I am hurt, but I am not going to hurt you back, this is compassion.”
Types of forgiveness include: exoneration, forbearance and release.
I have included some links other resources that discuss compassionate forgiveness.
Are the any Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Games?
The Stepping Stones to a Compassionate Life Game is a therapeutic game that allows players to explore what it would be like to engage and put into action the three flows of compassion: compassion to others, compassion from others, and self-compassion.
CFT resources recommended by Brisbane Psychologist Peter Gillogley
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) resources download. Please click here for a list of resources recommended by New Farm Psychologist Peter Gillogley.
Depression and CFT - FAQ
Frequently asked questions about depression and shame.
Nearly half of depressed people who receive medication and/or therapy, do not make a full recovery. These people seem to have particular difficulty accepting compassion from others, and also difficulty showing compassion to themselves. This fear of compassion seems to be linked to increased depression, anxiety and stress. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), which is an evidence based therapy for treatment of depression, seems particularly helpful in reducing the fear of accepting compassion for oneself and others.
Self-criticism can lead to and maintain depression. Compassion Focused Therapy helps people be more open and responsive to care and support from others. Reduced fear of compassion from others is associated with reduced symptoms of depression.
Humans have evolved to experience the emotion of shame as a warning signal. Shame is a warning that others may perceive him/her negatively and therefore at increased risk of ejection, exclusion, being passed by, harmed or even persecuted. Shame is experienced as a social threat Our brain based threat system activates the automatic response to fight, flight or freeze. All of us have memories of feeling shamed. People who can recall feeling loved and cared for as a child tend to experience less depression as adults, despite the presence of shame memories. Compassion Focused Therapy targets shame by helping individuals shift from a treat based response to activation of the affiliation system including a sense of soothing and safeness.