Compassion Focused Therapy

[katarata]

Has anyone heard of this type of therapy? My therapist mainly works with ACT, but now he told me about this (new?) type of therapy. It's completely new to me to be honest. Any experiences?

 

[arfie]

I haven't heard of it, but I sure like the idea. An awful lot of my own therapy seems like it was based on blame and rejection. Zero tolerance? I have tried and benefited from ACT and I can easily imagine shifts to compassion growing from it.

Ya got me surfing...

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Compassion for who? Depending on whom the compassion is for, I can see this perhaps not being the best for trauma survivors if it pushes compassion toward our abusers.

 

[katarata]

It's no at all about feeling compassion towards abusers! No, that wouldn't be a good thing at all. From what I've understood so far it's more about learning to be compassionate towards one self (not in a feeling-sorry-for-one-self way), and accepting one's feelings and thoughts. Also to learn how to comfort one self. And to get different "systems" functioning as a whole. It sounds interesting but also quite impossible...

 

[billie]

As I believive it is directed from the therapist towards the client. I am not sure but I think my T is using the stragergy on me at the moment. It involes compassion teachings from budda: empathy, affection and a sense of supportive manerisms.

 

[Pencil]

affection

What form does this take?

 

[billie]

From what I read body language of course in a professional manner. Sorry I do struggle with explaining myself most times. Could be from moving from behind the desk to sitting next to you.

 

[Pencil]

Sorry I do struggle with explaining myself most times

No need to apologize.

I'm curious as I'm struggling with this myself.

 

[Pencil]

@billie - and I would appreciate it if you could elaborate as you go through the therapy.

 

[shell]

I have had this as part of an overall approach.

I was very self critical, extremely avoidant of emotions and other people, felt constantly unsafe and was continuously attacking myself, and it was causing suicidal thoughts when I was triggered into shame or anger.

It was used to prepare me for EMDR as I have have major issues feeling safe, trust issues with myself and my therapist.

I never learnt how to self sooth as a child, so I have had to learn how to care for myself, something that most children in stable homes naturally learn from their parents. My mother hated me, and then I took over that role and hated myself even more than her.

It has taught me how to calm and stablize myself, to be caring and campassionate towards myself, and to quiten my inner critic when I am triggered, I no longer abandon myself due to the rage I turn inwards instead of at my abusers.

It is not self pity, it is self acceptance, treating myself like I would a friend.

It helped make a massive difference to my life, I am no longer depressed, and rarely have suicidal thoughts, and if I do they come, I care for myself and they go. It hasn't cured me, but it has stablized me and taught me to regulate my moods.

 

[Maggiemay]

There's a book about it written by Deborah Lee. My T used some of this approach with me which was helpful in getting me to be able to feel compassion towards little me rather than hatred & wanting to punish myself. I was referred to trauma service (woman who wrote book is in charge of service)but after they rejected me, I didn't want to read the book as like rubbing salt into the wound...

 

[Abstract]

It sounds very appealing. Thank you for sharing.