Self-Compassion
“Self-compassion entails being kind and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure rather than being harshly self-critical; perceiving one’s experiences as part of the larger human experience rather than seeing them as isolating; and holding painful thoughts and feelings in mindful awareness rather than over-identifying with them” (Neff, Kirkpatrick, & Rude, 2007). Gilbert’s evolutionary account of compassion argues that the self-soothing qualities of self-compassion allow for more effective affect regulation, greater capacity for intimacy, and more adaptive behavior (Gilbert, 1989, 2005). Many individuals who have experienced neglect or abuse struggle to offer compassion toward themselves and struggle with shame and self-criticism as a result. Within compassion-focused therapy (CFT) techniques for fostering and developing self-compassion are referred to as compassionate mind training (CMT). Read more
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Grounding Techniques Menu
Dissociation can be described as a shift of a person’s attention away from the present moment. When working with traumatized clients, this shift oft ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/grounding-techniques-menu/
Audio Collection: Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion
Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion is an audio collection which guides clients through an empirically-supported programme of compassionat ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/psychology-tools-for-developing-self-compassion-audio-collection/
Assertive Communication
Communicating and acting assertively is an interpersonal skill that helps people to maintain healthy relationships, resolve interpersonal conflict, an ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/assertive-communication/
Assertive Responses
Being able to communicate assertively is an essential skill for developing and maintaining healthy relationships and positive self-esteem. Individuals ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/assertive-responses/
Motivational Systems (Emotional Regulation Systems)
At the heart of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evolutionary model of human motivational systems. Developed by Paul Gilbert it is a helpful len ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/motivational-systems-emotional-regulation-systems/
Responses To Threat: Freeze, Appease, Flight, Fight
Human beings are programmed to respond automatically in a variety of ways to a threat including freezing, escaping, and dissociation. Traumatized indi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/responses-to-threat-freeze-appease-flight-fight/
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive relaxation training originated in the 1930’s as a treatment for tension and anxiety. Edmund Jacobsen developed a systematic and lengthy ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/progressive-muscle-relaxation/
Relaxed Breathing
Practising Relaxed Breathing serves to reduce physiological arousal and can be an excellent grounding technique. This client information handout descr ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/relaxed-breathing/
Compassionate Thought Challenging Record
Thought challenging records are commonly used in CBT to help people to evaluate their negative automatic thoughts for accuracy and bias. This Compassi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/compassionate-thought-challenging-record/
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) automatically regulates the function of body systems outside of voluntary control. The Autonomic Nervous System han ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/autonomic-nervous-system/
Breathing To Activate Your Soothing System
The Breathing To Activate Your Soothing System exercise is taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Listeners ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/breathing-to-activate-your-soothing-system/
Coercive Methods For Enforcing Compliance
Individuals who have experienced abuse often focus on their own actions (or inactions) and blame themselves for their own abuse. This client informati ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/coercive-methods-for-enforcing-compliance/
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Archived)
NOTE: An improved version of this resource is available here: Progressive Muscle Relaxation. Older versions of a resource may be archived in the event ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/progressive-muscle-relaxation-edition-1/
Focusing Compassion On Your Self
Focusing Compassion On Yourself is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. There are three ‘flo ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/focusing-compassion-on-your-self/
Barriers Abusers Overcome In Order To Abuse
Individuals who have experienced abuse often focus on their own actions (or inactions) and blame themselves for their own abuse. This client informati ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/barriers-abusers-overcome-in-order-to-abuse/
Gratitude Journal
Cultivating gratitude is an evidence-based positive psychology technique. This information handout describes reasons to cultivate a grateful attitude ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/gratitude-journal/
CFT Calm Place
The Calm Place Imagery exercise is taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. In this exercise, the listener is ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/cft-calm-place/
Compassionate Letter Writing
Compassionate Letter Writing is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. There are three ‘flows� ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/compassionate-letter-writing/
Perspective-Taking
Cognitive restructuring techniques in CBT teach clients ways of analyzing situations in ways that might initially be unfamiliar. A simple way of intro ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/perspective-taking/
Mindfulness Of Sounds And Thoughts
Mindfulness Of Sounds And Thoughts is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Some people find th ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-of-sounds-and-thoughts/
What Is Compassion, Why Do I Need It, And How Might It Help Me?
What Is Compassion, Why Do I Need It, And How Might It Help Me? is a track taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collec ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/free-audio-what-is-compassion/
Mindful Walking
Mindful Walking is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This is a less formal mindfulness prac ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindful-walking/
Mindfulness Of Breathing
Mindfulness Of Breathing is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This short mindfulness exerci ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-of-breathing/
Free Compassion Audio Tracks
Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion is a 30-track audio collection which guides clients through an empirically-supported programme of comp ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/free-compassion-audio-tracks/
Developing Your Compassionate Other
Developing Your Compassionate Other is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Being connected wi ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/developing-your-compassionate-other/
Mindfulness Of Body
Mindfulness Of Body is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Some types of mindfulness practice ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/mindfulness-of-body/
Living With A Tricky Brain
Living With A Tricky Brain is a track taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This introductory track explore ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/living-with-a-tricky-brain/
The Three Systems
The Three Systems is a track taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. The three systems conceptualization is a ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/the-three-systems/
Receiving Compassion From Your Ideal Other
Receiving Compassion From Your Ideal Other is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. There are t ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/receiving-compassion-from-your-ideal-other/
Voice Tone
The Voice Tone exercise is taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This short exercise guides listeners throu ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/free-audio-voice-tone/
Trying On The Qualities Of Compassion
Trying On The Qualities Of Compassion is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Being connected ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/trying-on-the-qualities-of-compassion/
A Memory Of Feeling Cared For
A Memory Of Feeling Cared For is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. In CFT, imagery and memo ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/a-memory-of-feeling-cared-for/
Being A Compassionate Person
Being A Compassionate Person is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Being connected with your ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/being-a-compassionate-person/
Body Posture
The Body Posture exercise is taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This short experiential practice invites ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/body-posture/
Combining Soothing Breathing With A Soothing Smell
The Combining Soothing Breathing With A Soothing Smell exercise is taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Th ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/combining-soothing-breathing-with-a-soothing-smell/
Facial Expression
The Facial Expression exercise is taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This short exercise invites the lis ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/facial-expression/
The Spotlight Exercise
The Spotlight Exercise is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. This short exercise introduces ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/the-spotlight-exercise/
Broadening Your Perspective
Broadening Your Perspective is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. Being connected with your ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/broadening-your-perspective/
Compassion To Others
Compassion To Others is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. There are three ‘flows’ of co ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/compassion-to-others/
A Memory Of Caring For Others
A Memory Of Caring For Others is an exercise taken from the Psychology Tools For Developing Self-Compassion audio collection. In CFT, imagery and memo ...
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/a-memory-of-caring-for-others/
Links to external resources
Psychology Tools makes every effort to check external links and review their content. However, we are not responsible for the quality or content of external links and cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time.
Case Conceptualization / Case Formulation
- Formulation in Compassion Focused Therapycompassionatemind.co.uk
- Training our minds in, with, and for compassion: an introduction to concepts and compassion-focused exercisescompassionatemind.co.uk
Exercises
- Compassionate letter writing | Paul Gilbert | 2010
- Writing a compassionate letter to myself
- Compassionate Letter Writing (Therapist Notes and Client Handout) | Paul Gilbert | 2007
- Building a compassionate image | Compassionate Mind Foundation
Guides and workbooks
- How to develop self-compassion | Russ Harris
Information Handouts
- What Is Self-Compassion? | Centre For Clinical Interventions
- The RAIN of self-compassion | Tara Brach
Information (Professional)
- Healthy emotion regulation strategies pyramid | Alice Boyes | 2011
Presentations
- An Introduction to the Theory & Practice of Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training for Shame Based Difficulties | Paul Gilbert | 2010
Self-Help Programmes
-
Building Self-Compassion (Workbook)
| Centre For Clinical Interventions | 2017
- Module 1: Understanding Self-Compassion
- Module 2: Barriers To Self-Compassion
- Module 3: Preparing For Self-Compassion
- Module 4: Compassionate Imagery
- Module 5: Self-Compassionate Thinking
- Module 6: Self-Compassionate Behavior
- Module 7: Self-Compassionate Living
Treatment Guide
- Compassionate Friend Group: Facilitator manual | Isabel Clark
- The ‘Compassionate Friend’ group: A 3 session group designed for use in a ward environment | Isabel Clark
Video
- Paul Gilbert – CFT Workshop at CCARE (part 2)youtube.com
- Compassion, anger, strength, and moral indignation | Russel Kolts | 2020
- Relating to voices using CFT | Charlie Herriot-Maitland
- The compassionate kit bag | Kate Lucre, Neil Clapton | 2019
-
CFT Workshop at CCARE
| Paul Gilbert | 2013
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- Part 4
- Paul Gilbert – DCP Lecture 2015 – Tragedies of the human mindyoutube.com
- Paul Gilbert – CFT Workshop at CCARE (part 4)youtube.com
- Paul Gilbert – CFT Workshop at CCARE (part 3)youtube.com
- Paul Gilbert – CFT Workshop at CCARE (part 1)youtube.com
- Paul Gilbert – Meng Wu Lecture (Introductory)youtube.com
Websites
- Exercises to increase self compassion | Neff, K.
Recommended Reading
- Goss, K., & Allan, S. (2010). Compassion focused therapy for eating disorders.International Journal of Cognitive Therapy,3(2), 141-158
- Compassion Focused Therapy – Procedure Outline
- Gilbert, P. (2009). Introducing compassion focused therapy.Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15, 199-208
References
- Gilbert, P. (1989). Human nature and suffering. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
- Gilbert, P. (2005). Compassion and cruelty: A biopsychosocial approach. In P. Gilbert (Ed.), Compassion: Conceptualisations, research and use in psychotherapy(pp. 9–74). New York: Routledge
- Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Self-compassion and adaptive psychological functioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(1), 139–154.