Compassion Focused Therapy for Groups: Transdiagnostic Treatment for Turbulent Times

ABSTRACT

The concept of compassion has a centuries-long history as a pillar of philosophical and religious discourse as a response to human suffering. More recently, Paul Gilbert, the founder of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) has explained compassion evolutionarily as a willingness to enter human suffering and a commitment to alleviating it. In the face of increased (and increasing) suffering in the world, compassion shows promise as both a societal and an individual intervention. In the following article, we discuss the background and theory of CFT, the empirical evidence for CFT delivered in a group therapy format, and present a standardized protocol. We then present an illustrative clinical vignette and discuss the current clinical and research limitations. We call for continued research to expand our understanding of CFT as well as its potential reach, and conclude by recommending CFT as an evidence-based group treatment that is particularly appropriate for the current global climate.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The group protocol discussed in this article is based on the work of Paul Gilbert, James Kirby, and Nicola Petrocchi. In addition, the Compassion Focused work at Brigham Young University was initiated and organized by Kara Cattani and Gary Burlingame, without whom the current article would not be possible.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David M. Erekson

David Erekson is an Associate Clinical Professor at Brigham Young University and board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Counseling Psychology. He earned a Master of Arts in psychology in education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at BYU. He is an active practitioner, engaging in individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, as well as supervision and teaching. His research includes psychotherapy process and outcome, university student mental health, and Compassion Focused Therapy.

Derek Griner

Derek Griner is a board certified (ABPP) counseling psychologist and meets the internationally accepted criteria of education, training, and experience to be endorsed as a certified group psychotherapist (CGP). He has worked in several settings and currently is a clinical professor who engages in individual, group, and couples therapy, teaching, research, and program development at Brigham Young University. He also serves as the associate training director. Derek is committed to diversity issues and has conducted award winning research in this domain.

Mark E. Beecher

Mark E. Beecher, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP is a licensed psychologist, clinical professor, and assistant clinical director at Brigham Young University’s (BYU) Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). He is board certified in counseling psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a certified group psychotherapist (CGP) through the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Though he practices as a generalist, he specializes in and is passionate about group psychotherapy, multicultural counseling, Compassion Focused Therapy, and the treatment of people with eating disorders. He has more than 25 years of experience leading psychotherapy groups and has taught beginning and advanced graduate courses in group psychotherapy at BYU. He also coordinated BYU CAPS’ 25-30 therapy groups per semester for five years.