Objectives: There is an increasing interest in how compassion training, and in particular, the cultivation of self-compassion may be an important component in the reduction of distress and promotion of well-being. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) has shown promising results in this area, with positive outcome studies in a wide range of mental health problems. However, following the successful development of short mindfulness-based programmes (e.g., Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy) and compassion/self-compassion programmes (e.g., Mindful Self-Compassion) that can be accessed by the general public, we were keen to develop and research an 8-week Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) course, based on the CFT model.
Design: Within-subjects pre-to-post-group comparison.
Methods: Following an 8-week CMT groups, participants in the general population (n = 55) completed pre- and post-measures (with 22 of these also providing 3-month follow-up data) on self-compassion, compassion for others, compassion from others, attachment, self-criticism, positive emotion, well-being, and distress.
Results: Significant increases in compassion, self-reassurance, social rank, positive emotions, and well-being were found, alongside reductions in self-criticism, attachment anxiety, and distress. Changes were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Change scores indicated the importance of increases in self-compassion and reductions in self-criticism in overall improvements in well-being and psychological distress.
Conclusions: Findings offer preliminary support for the usefulness of group CMT in community samples.
Practitioner points: Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) groups appear to be applicable and beneficial in community samples. CMT psychoeducation and practices appear to bring positive changes to a variety of psychological processes, including attachment, self-criticism, self-compassion, well-being, and distress. Further studies are required to investigate whether the mechanisms through which CMT is beneficial.
Keywords: compassion focused therapy; compassionate mind training; group; self-compassion.
© 2020 British Psychological Society.