Compassion Focused Therapy : a complete guide for clinicians

Shame, guilt and self-criticism are known to play major roles in the development and maintenance of psychological distress. As mental health professionals, we often struggle with our clients when they have difficulty addressing their feelings.

Unfortunately, our brains - both old and new, including the social brain - have their own motives, emotions and competencies, making emotional regulation even more challenging for our clients.

To address these issues, Dr. Goss offers to enlighten us on these topics by explaining how evolution has shaped our minds and emotions, and why they are so tricky to manage. In this detailed workshop, he will introduce the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and its potential to support clients with a high degree of self-criticism and shame.

More specifically, Dr. Goss will share the CFT formulation model: its philosophy, principles, and practical techniques. He will also detail the different systems and processes involved in the regulation of emotions and how they impact psychological well-being. By the end of the workshop, you will have all the keys to understand the specific approach of CFT and see how its model can be adapted to a range of disorders such as depression, anxiety, Eating Disorders/Distress, Personality Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD).

This training will cover:

• The role of evolution in the shape of our minds and emotions
• Why we have complex brains and why they are difficult to understand and regulate
• The interactions between the old and new brain
• What is compassion focused therapy?
• The competencies of compassion: engagement and alleviation of suffering
• The three specific affect regulation systems: the threat detection and protection system, the drive system and the soothing system
• Personal reflections on how emotions affect the body, thoughts, and behavior
• The acquisition of threat reactions and safety strategies
• Why is the threat system complex?
• Key emotions in psychological distress: shame, guilt, and self-criticism
• An overview of CFT treatment

By integrating CFT into our therapeutic practices, Dr. Goss aims to provide comprehensive support that nurtures a deeper understanding and healing process for our clients in psychological distress. Following this workshop, another training session will delve deeper into Eating disorders and Eating Distress. During this session, you will explore the CFT for Eating Disorders (CFT-E) model and its application in each phase to support our clients in their path to healing.