Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) aims to help those who experience mental health problems that feature high levels of shame and self-criticism. It will help you to learn how to feel and show greater kindness towards yourself and and others, and to feel safe and capable in a world that can seem overwhelming.
CFT draws upon an evolutionary theory and considers how this affects the way people think. Essentially, humans have two parts to their brains. The primitive or ‘old’ part which helps us survive. It ensures we have food, shelter, are loved and are safe. This part is also responsible for our natural autonomic stress response – ‘fight or flight’. It tends to be here where problems like anxiety and depression can originate.
Difficulties often arise when the new and old parts of the brain conflict or get confused. The basic and instinctual drivers of the old part can take over and create protective emotions (like anxiety).
One reason for such difficulties is that people may not have developed abilities to experience certain positive emotions such as safeness, reassurance and compassion. CFT was developed with, and for, people who find it difficult to stimulate certain types of positive emotion.
At Sanctum we are highly skilled at delivering CFT for a range of difficulties. CFT can be accessed as a 1:1 therapy option, and the number of sessions you will be seen for will be discussed following the initial assessment and reviewed regularly throughout your treatment. We seek to establish successful partnerships between client and therapist in order to achieve authentic therapeutic relationships and effective outcomes.
If you would like advice on CFT or other treatments, please contact us so that you can feel confident in any decisions you make about your treatment.
