ONLINE: An Introduction to the Theory & Practice of CFT (September 2026)

Registration

We will host this webinar via Zoom Meetings. This workshop will be recorded and recordings will be available for up to three months after the live broadcast for you to watch in your own time. This webinar awards delegates 20 hours toward CPD.

Timings

Day 1: 14th September 2026

Day 2: 15th September 2026

Day 3: 16th September 2026

09.30 to 17.00 each day

All timings are according to UK BST

Pricing

This workshop is priced as follows: £350.00

For those in difficult financial circumstances, who may struggle to afford this price, please contact hello@compassionatemind.co.uk

About this Course

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is now one of the fastest expanding psychological therapies, with a steadily growing evidence base. A recent meta-analysis based on 7,875 Participants, from 17 countries over 14 years found that CFT was effective in reducing overall negative mental health outcomes, depression, self-criticism and in improving compassion for self and others (Petrocchi et al, 2023).

In This workshop which will provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of CFT. Participants will learn how compassion can have an impact on our bodies, brains, minds and social relationships, and how we can bring this compassion into our therapeutic work. The CFT model draws on integrates a number of different approaches and insights, such as including evolutionary approaches to the origins of our ‘tricky’ brain, with a the nature of our complex of motives, and emotions and beliefs. This workshop will guides participants to in how to explore these processes including explore working with three basic emotion regulation systems that are focused on:

1. dealing with stresses and threats

2. guiding us to strive and pursue things we want or need and are sources of positive feelings

3. Settling 1 & 2 and underpin social connectedness and feeling safe.

CFT utilises insights from attachment theory, emotion and body focused approaches, and cognitive behavioural frameworks. Participants will learn how compassion is viewed as a basic algorithm defined as sensitivity to suffering in self and others, with a commitment to alleviate and prevent it, They will explore how we use this the processes of engaging with suffering and the processes of taking action in therapeutic work. Workshop trainers will guide participants in understanding what is necessary to be able to develop empathic sensitivity, courage and wisdom to take effective actions to address the sources of mental and physical suffering.

Trainers will also guide participants through the basic elements and foundations of CFT and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT), including how to use the body to support the mind, the use of compassionate imagery, how to practise compassionate behaviours and texture compassion cognitive interventions. These can be applies to the three flows of compassion (developing compassion for others, being open to the compassion from others and developing self-compassion), and how these dimensions of compassion can be met with fears, blocks and resistances, and how we can work with this. There will be a focus also on how we can use a compassion focused approach to work with the transdiagnostic problems of shame and self criticism.

Key Learning Areas

-The origins and development of Compassion Focused Therapy, and how compassion is defined and understood

-Understanding of Compassionate Mind Training

- Introduction to an evolutionary model of human psychology and its influence on vulnerability to difficulties

-The role of social mentalities, and how this can inform our understanding of human behaviour and experience

- The role of attachment and how the presence/absence of early secure base and safe haven impacts development and capacities for compassion cultivation

-Key areas of psychoeducation, including ‘the tricky brain’ and the three circle model of emotion regulation

- Compassion as flow: compassion to others, being open to compassion from others and self-compassion

- Practices that stimulate compassion focused brain states and build a sense of a compassionate self identity

- How to use CFT and CMT work with shame and hostile self-criticism

Background Reading

Cozolino, L. (2007). The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Brain. New York: Norton

Dalai Lama. (1995). The Power of Compassion. India: HarperCollins.

Fredrickson, B,L., Cohn, M,A., Coffey, K,A, Pek, J., & Finkel. S,A. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness mediation, build consequential personal resources, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 1045-62. You can download this via academia.edu by clicking here.

Gerhardt, S. (2004). Why Love Matters. How Affection Shapes a Baby’s Brain. London: Bruner-Routledge.

Germer, C. (2009). The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions. New York: Guilford.

Gilbert, P. (2018) Living Like Crazy. Annwyn House

Gilbert, P. (ed) (2017) Compassion: Concepts, Research and Application. Routledge

Gilbert, P. (2010) Compassion Focused Therapy Distinctive Features Series. London: Routledge

Gilbert. P. (2009). The Compassionate Mind. Robinson

Gilbert P. (2007). Psychotherapy and Counselling for Depression (3rd edition): London. Sage.

Gilbert, P. (2000) Social mentalities: Internal ‘social’ conflicts & the role of inner-warmth & compassion in cognitive therapy. In P.Gilbert & K.G. Bailey (Eds). Genes on the Couch: Explorations in Evolutionary Psychotherapy. London: Routledge.

Gilbert, P. & Irons, C. (2005). Therapies for shame and self-attacking, using cognitive, behavioural, emotional imagery, and compassionate mind training. In P.Gilbert (Ed) Compassion: Conceptualisations, Research and Use in Psychotherapy. London: Routledge.

Glasser, A. (2005). A Call to Compassion: Bringing Buddhist Practices of the Heart into the Soul of Psychotherapy. Berwick Maine: Nicolas-Hays.

Irons, C. & Beaumont, E. (2017) The Compassionate Mind Workbook. Robinson

Kolts, R. L. (2016) CFT Made Simple: A Clinician's Guide to Practising Compassion Focused Therapy. New Harbinger.

Leary, M.R., Tate, E.B., Adams, C.E., Allen, A.B. & Hancock, J. (2007). Self-Compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events: The implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 887-904. There are options to access this article by clicking here.

Lee, D. (2005) The perfect nurturer: A model to develop a compassionate mind within the context of cognitive therapy. In P.Gilbert (Ed) Compassion: Conceptualisations, Research and Use in Psychotherapy. London: Routledge

Mikulincer, M. & Shaver, P.R. (2007) Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change. New York: Guilford

Welford, M. (2016) Compassion Focused Therapy for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons.

To see the full range of Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind related books, please check out the link: compassionatemind.co.uk/resources/books

Workshop Leaders :

Dr Ashleigh McLellan is a consultant clinical psychologist with 20 years’ experience in the NHS working with complex mental health presentations. She was the clinical lead for the Humber Traumatic Stress Service in Hull with a specialism in military trauma, refugees and asylum seekers and a range of cPTSD presentations. She is involved in teaching on the Hull, Leeds and Sheffield ClinPsyD courses, and has supervised a number of Hull trainee clinical psychologists in CFT research. In 2020 Ashleigh started working exclusively in independent practice using the compassionate mind model with organisations and businesses, working with teams, individuals and delivering training. She is the director of her own company Ubuntu Psychology, where she continues her clinical work, and is a co-director of Indigo Talent Development where she is taking the CFT model into the corporate and business world. Ashleigh has also co-created Your Virtual Mental Trainer, which is offers a collection of 360° immersive nature videos synchronised with six-minute audio recordings.

Dr. Shelley Kerr is a Clinical Psychologist who has witnessed the healing power of compassion time and time again, both in her personal and professional life. Shelley’s doctoral research (2008) focused on the therapeutic potential of gratitude and kindness. She was formally trained in CFT in 2013 whilst working in a specialist NHS service for people diagnosed with ‘personality disorder’. She found CFT invaluable for her clients who were struggling with intense unstable emotions, relationship difficulties, complex trauma, PTSD, a deep sense of shame, self-harm and suicidal behaviours. Shelley found that CFT was helpful both as a stand-alone therapy, as well as a complement to DBT and CBT approaches. Shelley also gained extensive CFT experience by working under the supervision of Dr Chris Irons, both in the NHS and private practice settings. In 2018 Shelley completed a Postgraduate Certificate in CFT with Professor Paul Gilbert. Shelley now works in private practice in Bristol, in her practice Compassionate Change, where compassion focuses all she offers. Alongside her client work, she remains passionate about sharing the wonderful CFT model with other therapists, both within supervision and training.

www.compassionatechange.co.uk