Workshop
Introduction to The Theory and Practise of Compassion Focused Therapy
This is a three day online workshop with Dr Ashleigh McLellan & Dr Shelley Kerr
From £10 • Card, PayPal & bank transfer available
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About this workshop
This workshop will run on from 14th-16th September 2026 from 09.30 – 17.00 BST on all days.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is now one of the fastestexpanding psychological therapies, with a steadily growing evidence base. A recent meta-analysis based on 7,875 participants (from 17 countries and 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, 2024).
This workshop 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, and integrates, a number of different approaches and insights, such as including evolutionary approaches to the origins of our ‘tricky’ brain, with the nature of our complex of motives, and emotions and beliefs. This workshop will guide 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 pursuethings we want or need and are sources of positive feelings
3. settling threat and drive, and underpining 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 can use 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 compassionate 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 CFT, and how compassion is defined and understood
- Understanding of CMT
- 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
What you'll learn
What compassion is and how it informs psychotherapeutic practice
The theory and practice of CFT
CFT psychoeducation and how it is used in practice
Using CFT in transdiagnostic areas like shame and self criticism
Who this workshop is for
Mental Healthcare Practitioners
Meet your instructor
Recommended Material
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about this workshop.
All delegates signed up to the workshop will recieve joining links and instructions when they sign up for the event via Eventbrite. Any additional handouts will be sent to you as soon as they are recieved from the speaker. If you do not recieve a welcome email when you book, or have other queries, please email hello@compassionatemind.co.uk.
Yes, this workshop will be recorded on zoom. Once the workshop has finished all delegates will receive a follow-up email with the links to view these along with any extra resources. These will be available to view for around 3 months post-event. The recordings are edited, so will be made available roughly a week after the workshop has finished.
Yes we will email certificates of attendance to all attendees, however as this is for personal practice and not for continuing professional development, the certificate will not include any CPD.
Yes, this course is suitable for those who are new to CFT, although some knowledge of the basics may be helpful.
Yes, this workshop will be recorded on zoom. Once the workshop has finished all delegates will receive a follow-up email with the links to view these along with any extra resources. These will be available to view for around 3 months post-event. The recordings are edited, so will be made available roughly a week after the workshop has finished.
Yes, this absolutley fine. The workshop will be recorded, and you'll be able to catch up on anything you've missed for up to a month after the live broadcast.
Yes, towards the bottom of the page under the 'prices' section you will find a link to download a booking form for this workshop. Please fill this in and email to finance@compassionatemind.co.uk
Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, and particularly that it will contain a lot of group work, we feel you'd be missing too much of its value if you cannot participate live. So all delegates will need to attend live. Any delegates that have signed up but don't attend will not receive a CPD certificate.
Please get in touch at hello@compassionatemind.co.uk if you can now longer attend this workshop and need to change your booking.
Still have questions?
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