Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

[Kizzie]

This therapeutic approach focuses on helping clients to develop their arrested social safety system by adopting a nurturing, positive and caring relationship with the self to counteract the blaming, condemning inner critic with a healthier, more compassionate inner voice. Much like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, CFT strives to stimulate different areas of the brain than are normally used by clients who exhibit shame-based, and highly self-critical thinking (as is the case in CPTSD).

Reference: http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/15/3/199.full

[schrödinger's cat]

Most of the resources links were broken, at least for me. Maybe the site is too new and they haven't pasted everything in yet? Or maybe my browser hates me? Anyway, the link that worked led me to a very interesting graphic on healthy strategies for regulating emotions. It's well worth a look. I realized that the emotion-regulating strategies I learned as a kid are the ones we're apparently to use "sparingly" (if we use them at all). So that explains a lot.

[Kizzie]

Yes, I really like that graphic.     It validates for me that as kids we chose strategies that would help us to cope with trauma we could not escape from, perhaps they were the only ones we could have used when you look at the ones in the lower section. Those healthier strategies - we simply could not have used those. 

Tks for the heads up about the links - the link to the article was fine, but I'll have a look and see if I can find some other resources 

[Kizzie]

A few links to CFT sites which have some useful video/audio files, downloadable resources and links:

The Compassionate Mind Foundation - http://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/
The Centre for Mindfulness and Compassionate Focused Therapy - http://www.mindfulcompassion.com/
Mindful self-compassion - http://mindfulselfcompassion.org/

[schrödinger's cat]

Thanks, Kizzie! You're a treasure among admins.    I'll have a look at these.

[keepfighting]

Thanks for the links, kizzie.

Compassion is such a hard concept to get your head around if you have CPTSD, especially self compassion. It's good that there are so many helpful resources now. I especially like the compassion focused CBT since I have had good experiences with CBT.

[Kizzie]

It is hard to get your mind (and heart) around self-compassion KF, we (CPTSDers) just don't seem to be able to grab on to this concept  quickly or easily, I suppose because it's virtually a foreign concept. But if T's like Walker and CFT T's are correct, while it's dormant in our psyches we can reignite it and "fan the flames" into a most beautiful, warm and comforting fire.

Anyway, I agree that CFT is a lot like CBT except that there seems to be more of a focus on feelings. Both have a similar goal of stimulating different parts of the brain so that we are able move away from the negative goo and that I am most willing to do yes sirree, I am all about fanning those flames     

[stella.h]

I have just stumbled on this gift of a community tonight and could not be more filled with gratitude.

Self-compassion is a lesson I never learned and these three women (all of whom have books, webpages, guided meditations, etc) have been enormously helpful as I begin to find space for myself in this world:

Kristin Neff (www.self-compassion.org)
Tara Brach (www.tarabrach.com)
Pema Chodron (www.pemachodronfoundation.org)

with love for you all.
S

[Kizzie]

Welcome to OOTS Stella, so glad you found your way here 

I had a quick look through the links and thank you for sharing them, lots about self-compassion including some great exercises.

When you feel comfortable doing so please post an introduction so we can get to know you.