Program Goals

The goals of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) are:

• Reduce secondary traumatic stress
• Address underlying factors such as shame and self-criticism and promote self-acceptance
• Gain understanding of compassion as flow: compassion to others, being open to compassion from others, and compassion towards oneself.
• Learn practices that stimulate compassionate mental states and those that build a sense of the compassionate self-identity

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS).

Essential Components

The essential components of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) include:

• How the human ability to self-monitor can be a source of shame, anxiety and depression, but also compassion to self and others
• How the three-affect regulation system (threat awareness & coping, reward & resource seeking, and contentment & soothing) forms complex patterns within the mind
• How early life experiences can shape the organization of emotions and sense of selves, and underpin mental health difficulties
• Fears, blocks, and resistances to compassion, and how to work with these in therapy
• Explore the components of self-compassion and how its application can ideally facilitate and promote well-being
• Techniques and exercises to help individuals acquire compassion and self-soothing skills, such as soothing rhythm breathing, safe place imagery, and imagining an ideal ‘compassionate other’

Program Delivery

Recommended Intensity:

One weekly 2-hour session with a break in the middle for groups

Recommended Duration:

The number of sessions varies depending on individual needs, but the program usually comprises 12 modules spread over 12-24 weeks.

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Foster / Kinship Care
• Hospital
• Outpatient Clinic
• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
• Group or Residential Care
• Justice Setting (Juvenile Detention, Jail, Prison, Courtroom, etc.)
• Public Child Welfare Agency (Dept. of Social Services, etc.)
• School Setting (Including: Day Care, Day Treatment Programs, etc.)

Homework

Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS) includes a homework component:

Clients receive handouts/memory notes for the purpose of recapping content covered in each module. In addition, they are usually asked to try to practice compassion in their everyday lives and practice meditation exercises at home with the provision of recordings (accessed online). Workbooks and practice diaries are also provided to help with this.

Languages

Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS) has materials available in languages other than English:

French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese

Please contact the program contact (bottom of the page) if you require materials in a different language that is not listed – there are at least 18 international affiliate groups (see:https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/resource/affiliates-and-partners)

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

A CFT-trained psychotherapist (or 2 CFT-trained facilitators for groups), a quiet room, flipchart and pen(s) or laptop and projector for mapping ideas.

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Trainers will be qualified therapists with usually several years clinical experience using CFT and often have experience of providing training (e.g. in their other work settings/other training providers). Compassionate Mind Foundation is one provider of training, others include APT and Balanced Minds, who will have their own processes.

There is a Train the Trainers course for teachers: https://www.derby.ac.uk/short-courses-cpd/health-and-social-care/train-the-trainers/#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20third%20of,Decrease%20stress

Eligibility:

• Individuals must also already possess a recognized qualification (e.g., member of the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), British Psychological Society (CPsychol) as well as qualified teacher status (QTS) or postgraduate certification (PGCert) or equivalent in other countries)
• Participants must have completed the Compassionate Mind Training - Teachers (https://www.derby.ac.uk/short-courses-cpd/health-and-social-care/compassionate-mind-training---teachers/) course or a recognized Compassionate Mind Training/Compassion Focused Therapy course via the Compassionate Mind Foundation (https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/) or its affiliations.
• If a recognized Compassionate Mind Training/Compassion Focused Therapy course has been undertaken but doesn’t cover all elements outlined in the Compassionate Mind Training - Teachers course, participants must first engage with a pre-recorded online version of the Compassionate Mind Training - Teachers course (https://www.derby.ac.uk/short-courses-cpd/health-and-social-care/compassionate-mind-training---teachers/) at a reduced cost. https://www.derby.ac.uk/short-courses-cpd/health-and-social-care/compassionate-mind-training---teachers/

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Manual details:

• Gilbert, P., & Simos, G. (2022). Compassion Focused Therapy: Clinical practice and applications. London Routledge.
• Petrocchi, P., Kirby, J., & Baldi, B. (2024). Essentials of Compassion Focused Therapy. Routledge.

Manuals are available through their publisher and other booksellers.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contacts:

• Compassionate Mind Foundation
  www.compassionatemind.co.uk/compassion-focused-therapy-diploma
  hello@compassionatemind.co.uk
  phone: (013) 324-2337 x6
• Compassionate Mind Foundation Research Team
  Compassionate Mind Foundation
  www.compassionatemind.co.uk
  research@compassionatemind.co.uk
  phone: (013) 324-2337 x6

Training Type/Location:

Clinicians need to attend the Introduction to CFT (3-day) workshop as well as the Advanced Clinical Skills (3-day) workshop, with a break of at least 6 months in between. The Diploma in CFT, which is a 10-month British Psychological Association approved training, is also offered.

Training is provided by the Compassionate Mind Foundation, based in the UK and online (with affiliates offering training internationally). Bespoke workshops which can be tailored to the needs of the trainee’s organization are also offered.

Number of days/hours:

At least 6 days to cover both workshops.

Implementation Information

Pre-Implementation Materials

There are no pre-implementation materials to measure organizational or provider readiness for Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS).

Formal Support for Implementation

There is formal support available for implementation of Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS) as listed below:

Formal support is required in the form of clinical supervision to ensure clinicians are supported in their work as well as fidelity to the model. Supervision may be provided in person or via teleconferencing, (e.g., Zoom or MS Teams). Formal training to become a CFT supervisor is also available

Fidelity Measures

There are no fidelity measures for Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS).

Implementation Guides or Manuals

There are no implementation guides or manuals for Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS).

Implementation Cost

There are no studies of the costs of Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS).

Research on How to Implement the Program

Research has been conducted on how to implement Compassion-Focused Therapy for Secondary Traumatic Stress (CFT for STS) as listed below:

Petrocchi, N., Ottaviani, C., Cheli, S., Matos, M., Baldi, B., Basran, J. K., & Gilbert, P. (2024). The impact of compassion-focused therapy on positive and negative mental health outcomes: Results of a series of meta-analyses. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 31(2), 230–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000193

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Additional References