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).

+ Show all problems
+ Show all therapy tools
40 of 40 resources

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

Information Handouts

Information (Professional)

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

Treatment Guide

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
  • 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

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.