Development of CFT
Paul Gilbert developed Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to address complex mental health issues arising from abuse, neglect, trauma and bullying that result in high levels of shame and self-criticism. Compassion is defined as ‘sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it’ (Merriam-webstercom, 2017). Gilbert observed that other traditional methods of CBT seemed to have something missing when exploring deeper psychological issues. Although some clients understood the logic of changing their negative internal dialogue to a more constructive positive dialogue using CBT techniques, they still failed to ‘feel better’ and continued to blame and self-criticise. There appeared to be other predisposing …show more content…
Paul MacLean 1913 - 2007) (see Appendix A), we can see how the brain is technically divided into three main parts which are the lizard (reptilian; most primitive; emotional threat system), mammal (limbic: more evolved; emotional drive system) and human (neocortex; most evolved; emotional soothing system). Building on that theory, Gilbert shows how understanding the evolution of our brain and its different functions we can learn that there are innate survival responses and defences within us that are activated or triggered through unconscious habitual memory as we navigate through life. Psycho-education in CFT explains that we have three basic emotional regulation systems (see Appendix B), which are threat, drive and soothing, each with its own set of …show more content…
Gilbert refers to this as our ‘old brain’, which has evolved from the beginning of time right up to current experience. Here lie our basic survival instincts of fight, flight or freeze. In contrast to that, we also have a ‘new brain’ with a distinct quality that allows us to ‘imagine’. Constructively we can create, invent, discover, intend, arouse. Other helpful qualities of the imagination are the ability to sympathise and empathise as a way of connecting and understanding. Less helpful qualities are the desire to ruminate, especially if in a negative mind frame (Gilbert, 2010,
Paul Gilbert developed Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to address complex mental health issues arising from abuse, neglect, trauma and bullying that result in high levels of shame and self-criticism. Compassion is defined as ‘sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it’ (Merriam-webstercom, 2017). Gilbert observed that other traditional methods of CBT seemed to have something missing when exploring deeper psychological issues. Although some clients understood the logic of changing their negative internal dialogue to a more constructive positive dialogue using CBT techniques, they still failed to ‘feel better’ and continued to blame and self-criticise. There appeared to be other predisposing …show more content…
Paul MacLean 1913 - 2007) (see Appendix A), we can see how the brain is technically divided into three main parts which are the lizard (reptilian; most primitive; emotional threat system), mammal (limbic: more evolved; emotional drive system) and human (neocortex; most evolved; emotional soothing system). Building on that theory, Gilbert shows how understanding the evolution of our brain and its different functions we can learn that there are innate survival responses and defences within us that are activated or triggered through unconscious habitual memory as we navigate through life. Psycho-education in CFT explains that we have three basic emotional regulation systems (see Appendix B), which are threat, drive and soothing, each with its own set of …show more content…
Gilbert refers to this as our ‘old brain’, which has evolved from the beginning of time right up to current experience. Here lie our basic survival instincts of fight, flight or freeze. In contrast to that, we also have a ‘new brain’ with a distinct quality that allows us to ‘imagine’. Constructively we can create, invent, discover, intend, arouse. Other helpful qualities of the imagination are the ability to sympathise and empathise as a way of connecting and understanding. Less helpful qualities are the desire to ruminate, especially if in a negative mind frame (Gilbert, 2010,