Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

CFT proposes that we have evolved three psychological drives to help us navigate the world; (1) the ability to manage threats, (2) the drive to pursue goals, and (3) the ability gain social affiliation, care and contentment. The focus of CFT is to balance these systems by cultivating compassion for oneself and others, which can help us sooth our threat and drive systems. This means that CFT can be particularly effective for alleviating strong feelings of shame and guilt, reduce self-criticism, and increase self-esteem.

CFT has a good evidence base and is commonly used as part of a treatment plan for trauma, low mood or anxiety. It integrates neuroscientific evidence with Buddhist principles of mindfulness and compassion to address psychological distress, promote emotional healing and increase resilience. CFT can provide an excellent lens through which to understand ourselves and it can also be useful to integrate some aspects of CFT into the overall therapeutic plan.