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Cited by 1,435Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Introducing compassion-focused therapy

Open access
Gilbert, Paul·2009·Advances in Psychiatric Treatment
DOI 10.1192/apt.bp.107.005264
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Abstract

Summary: Shame and self-criticism are transdiagnostic problems. People who experience them may struggle to feel relieved, reassured or safe. Research suggests that a specialised affect regulation system (or systems) underpins feelings of reassurance, safeness and well-being. It is believed to have evolved with attachment systems and, in particular, the ability to register and respond with calming and a sense of well-being to being cared for. In compassion-focused therapy it is hypothesised that this affect regulation system is poorly accessible in people with high shame and self-criticism, in whom the ‘threat’ affect regulation system dominates orientation to their inner and outer worlds. Compassion-focused therapy is an integrated and multimodal approach that draws from evolutionary, social, developmental and Buddhist psychology, and neuroscience. One of its key concerns is to use compassionate mind training to help people develop and work with experiences of inner warmth, safeness and soothing, via compassion and self-compassion.

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Crossref · 10.1192/apt.bp.107.005264

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  • CFT is grounded in a theoretical assumption that we have three affective systems (threat, drive and soothing) and that enhancing the soothing system helps manage negative thoughts and emotions through promoting social bonding and positive self-repair behaviours.

    “CFTis grounded in a theoretical assumption that we have three affective systems (threat, drive and soothing) and that enhancing the soothing system helps us manage negative thoughts and emotions through promoting social bonding and positive self-repair behaviours (Gilbert 2009).”

    From Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Related Therapies: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2019) · cites this paper as Gilbert 2009

  • Compassion-focused therapy relies on the same evolutionary stress systems as PVT, helping people to reduce their own stress levels and experience (self-) connection, warmth, safety, and reassurance by developing a supportive inner voice.

    “Compassion-focused therapy (CFT; Gilbert, 2009, 2014), for example, relies on the same evolutionary stress systems, helping people to reduce their own stress levels and experience (self-) connection, warmth, safety, and reassurance by developing a supportive inner voice.”

    From A theoretical exploration of polyvagal theory in creative arts and psychomotor therapies for emotion regulation in stress and trauma (2024) · cites this paper as Gilbert, 2009

  • The issue of self-acceptance is central for the compassion-focused psychotherapeutic approach to the treatment of pathological shame.

    “The issue of self-acceptance is central for the compassion-focused psychotherapeutic approach to the treatment of pathological shame [23,24,47,48].”

    From Shame or What Makes Irrational Social Anxiety Rational. (2025) · cites this paper as [23]

  • In that previous experiment, participants embodied in a non-lookalike adult virtual body saw a virtual crying child and delivered a previously learned compassionate speech to the child, which then gradually stopped crying.

    “The method was employed to enable them to indirectly give compassion to themselves40. In the virtual reality while embodied in a (non-lookalike) adult virtual body they saw a virtual crying child and delivered a previously learned compassionate speech to the child, that then gradually stopped crying.”

    From Conversations between self and self as Sigmund Freud—A virtual body ownership paradigm for self counselling (2015) · cites this paper as [40]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Bowlby J (1969) Attachment. Vol. 1: Attachment and Loss. Hogarth Press.
  2. Depue RA, Morrone-Strupinsky JV (2005) A neurobehavioral model of affiliative bonding. Behavioral and Brain Sciences; 28: 313-95.
  3. Gilbert P (ed) (2005a) Compassion: Conceptualisations, Research and Use in Psychotherapy. Routledge.
  4. Kaufman G (1989) The Psychology of Shame. Springer.
  5. Panksepp J (1998) Affective Neuroscience. Oxford University Press.
  6. Uväns-Morberg K (1998) Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions. Psychoneuroendocrinology; 23: 819- 35.
  7. Wheatley J, Brewin CR, Patel T, et al (2007) "I'll believe it when I see it": imagery re-scripting of intrusive sensory memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry; 39: 371-85.

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Authors
Gilbert, P.
Affiliations
University of Derby (GB)
Corresponding author
Gilbert, Paul
ORCID
Gilbert, Paul
Venue
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2009-05
Volume
15
Issue
3
Pages
199-208
ISSN
  • 1355-5146 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1481
DOI
10.1192/apt.bp.107.005264
OpenAlex
W1994387760
Cited by
1,435
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 114 · 2025: 137 · 2024: 145 · 2023: 144 · 2022: 154 · 2021: 150 · 2020: 115 · 2019: 94 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 62 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 15
FWCI
10.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 3168 d)
Locations
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
compassion-focused therapy, shame, self-criticism, emotion regulation, reassurance, safety, self-compassion, compassionate mind training, attachment, Buddhist psychology, evolutionary psychology

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