273-291

• Gilbert, Paul

People with complex emotional difficulties sometimes find it difficult to emotionallyengage with psychological therapy. They may say things such as, "I understand the logicof the therapy, and it makes perfect sense but I just can't feel it". These kinds of difficultiesare often underpinned by shame and self-criticism. Such individuals often come from harshor neglectful backgrounds and have experienced low affection. Compassion focused therapysuggests that: (a) Shame and self-criticism are forms of safety strategies that can be resistantto change, (b) The ability to feel reassured by the therapist and therapeutic interventionsdepends upon activation of a specialised emotion system that gives rise to the feelings ofsafeness, soothing and reassurance, (c) For some people this system is inaccessible and/orfrightening to work with, (d) Increased access and activation of the soothing, safeness andreassurance system can be a key focus of therapy.

• Psychology
• Basic Medicine

• Neurosciences and the humanities
• Mental health

compassion, self-criticism, shame

Περιέχει σχήματα και βιβλιογραφία, Special issue: Current issues in psychotherapy