Cultivating Compassion: An Exploration of Compassion Focused Therapy and Mindfulness Interventions to Treat Shame

Individuals presenting for eating disorder treatment often experience overwhelmingly high levels of shame, self-criticism, and self-directed hostility. Shame is recognized as a central factor in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. This shame may be experienced as feelings of inadequacy, body shame, feeling flawed or defective, shame about eating disorder behaviors and eating or more profoundly, being ashamed to exist at all.

Our patients live with a threat/survival-focused mind, unable to access a sense of inner and outer safeness, soothing and well-being in the world. Tre
...Read moreatment must address not only the outward eating disorder behavioral symptoms but also these core underlying maintaining factors.

This presentation will focus specifically on self-compassion as an antidote to high levels of shame. It is based on the assumption that learning to relate to oneself with kindness and love in times of difficulty is key to the process of healing from emotional and relational pain.

Compassion is evolving as an empirically supported foundational therapeutic resource for psychological health and well-being. According to Buddhism, compassion has a two-part psychology and is both a way of being and doing. The first part being turning toward suffering and the second with an accompanying motivation and action to alleviate it.

Research will be presented that explains the modern science of compassion and self-compassion, drawing on the work of Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer and practical teachings on how to utilize Compassion Focused Therapy, developed by Paul Gilbert and CFT-E (specific to eating disorders) adapted by Ken Goss.

The Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) integrative model draws from evolutionary neuroscience, CBT, Jungian archetypes, Buddhist psychology, and attachment theory. This model proposes that we can train our mind to be compassionate to self and others and handle distressing emotions and threat in a way that promotes safeness and contentment.

Along with presentation of theory, presenter will include personal experiential practice for attendees. Particular emphasis will be placed on learning to help patients develop inner warmth, safeness, and soothing in times of distress through Compassionate Mind Training that includes the body in the process. Less...

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the science of compassion as a healing path for high levels of shame and self-criticism in individuals presenting for treatment for an eating disorder
  • Identify blocks and pathways to self-compassion in the pursuit of healing and recovery
  • Utilize 2 skills from the core concepts of Compassion Focused Therapy to support recovery from eating disorder behaviors and thought patterns

Friday, February 26, 2021

Live Interactive Webinar

10:00 AM PST - 11:30 AM PST

Register for this Webinar
EARN 1.5 CE Credit Hours

About the speaker

CE Information - Earn 1.5 CE Credit Hours

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American Psychological Association
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