Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a therapeutic approach that aims to help those who struggle with shame and self-criticism, often resulting from early experiences of abuse or neglect. CFT teaches clients to cultivate the skills of self-compassion and other-oriented compassion, which are thought to help regulate mood and lead to feelings of safety, self-acceptance, and comfort. The technique is similar to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in that it also instructs clients about the science behind the mind-body connection and how to practice mind and body awareness.
CFT is a relatively new modality, developed by British psychologist Paul Gilbert in the first decade of the 21st century. Some small studies and research reviews suggest that it can be effective for the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety; it can also help people who are especially prone to self-criticism manage those behaviors. Some researchers have also begun to test whether it can be beneficial to people with eating disorders or symptoms of psychosis, with some positive results so far. However, most studies on CFT have been small, and some lack proper controls. Further research, conducted on larger samples, is likely needed to determine the efficacy of CFT on a broader scale, as well as identify which conditions it is best suited to treat.
