Compassion Focused Therapy Participant Workbook

Compassion Focused Therapy Participant Workbook is a companion book to Compassion Focused Group Therapy for University Counseling Centers, a one-of-a-kind 12-session manual for conducting compassion focused group therapy on college campuses.

Compassion-based interventions have been shown to decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in students. This book?s 12 sessions incorporate several aspects of compassionate living including defining and understanding compassion, mindfulness, shame, assertiveness, and forgiveness to help participants act in more compassionate ways with themselves and others, lower feelings of shame and self-criticism, and engage in self-reassuring behaviors. The workbook provides clients with summaries of each session, handouts, and key exercises and, along with the manual, can be followed session-by-session or adapted according to the needs of the group.

This workbook is designed to be used by clinicians and participants in a clinician-led group utilizing Compassion Focused Group Therapy for University Counseling Centers.

Introduction & Welcome 1. Introduction, Compassion and the Tricky Brain 2. Three Systems of Emotion 3. Mindfulness 4. Feeling Safe and Receiving Compassion for Others 5. Compassionate-Self 6. Multiple Selves 7. Self-Criticism 8. Shame and Guilt 9. Deepening Compassion for the Self 10. Compassionate Assertiveness 11. Forgiveness 12. Envisioning a Compassionate Future Index

Rachel Arnold is a graduate student at Brigham Young University studying clinical psychology. She is involved in clinical work and group therapy research.

Cameron T. Alldredge is completing his doctoral internship in a university counseling center. As an emerging psychologist, he is passionate about teaching, research, and clinical practice.

Kara Cattani is a clinical professor and director of Student Development Services at Brigham Young University. She divides her time between administrative work, clinical practice, training of graduate students, consulting, and clinical research.

Derek Griner is a practicing board-certified counseling psychologist with significant CFT experience. His research focuses on diversity issues for which he received APA’s Division 17 award for excellence in scholarship.

David M. Erekson is a board-certified psychologist and an associate clinical professor at Brigham Young University. A dedicated scientist-practitioner, he has an active clinical practice and a psychotherapy research lab.

Gary M. Burlingame has contributed over 75 books, manuals and chapters and 150 articles on effective small group treatments and is president-elect of the American Group Psychotherapy Association.

Mark E. Beecher is a board-certified counseling psychologist who has practiced in a college counseling center for over 20 years. His practice and research interests include individual/group psychotherapy, CFT, and multicultural competence.