Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is a psychotherapy based approach that was developed by Professor Paul Gilbert. It integrates techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy, social, evolutionary and developmental psychology, Buddhist psychology, and neuroscience. It is very effective in treating self-criticism, improve the relationship we have with ourselves by learning the skills of self-compassion.
CFT aims to help promote mental and emotional wellbeing by encouraging people to be compassionate toward themselves and others. Compassion, both toward the self and toward others, is an emotional response believed to be an essential aspect of wellbeing.
We often find it easier to be compassionate to others, but are much harder and more critical of ourselves. Compassion focused therapy helps to train you to talk to and treat yourself the way you would treat a loved one. This can be highly effective in long-term behaviour change such as forming healthy habits, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle changes and for increasing confidence, self-esteem and boosting performance.
