We live in a world which often emphasises productivity, achievement, and self-criticism. This can make it easy to lose sight of the importance of self-compassion. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) with Dr Romila Ragaven here at Therapy Waves offers a refreshing and transformative approach to mental health, one that places compassion at the heart of the healing process.
CFT was developed by renowned clinical psychologist Paul Gilbert and is grounded in the understanding that our psychological difficulties often come from a lack of self-compassion. When we refuse to treat ourselves with kindness, understanding, and care, we become trapped in a cycle of self-criticism, shame, and emotional distress. The goal of CFT is to break this cycle by helping individuals develop a greater amount of self-compassion.
The very core belief of CFT is that we all have an innate capacity for compassion, but this capacity may have been underdeveloped or even suppressed due to your experiences throughout your life, your cultural norms, or forms of psychological conditioning. Through a series of targeted exercises and techniques CFT helps you to reconnect with this compassionate part of yourself and develop the ability to soothe your suffering. You will also develop the skills to approach life with greater kindness and understanding.
One of the key beliefs of CFT is the importance of developing a “compassionate mind.” This revolves around developing a mental state which is characterised by warmth, empathy, and a desire to alleviate suffering, both for yourself and others. By practicing self-compassion, participants can begin to replace negative self-talk with a more nurturing inner voice and learn to approach their challenges with a greater sense of patience, resilience, and self-acceptance.
Overall, Compassion-Focused Therapy offers a powerful approach towards mental health problems and is an effective tool for encouraging personal growth. By helping individuals grow self-compassion, CFT empowers them to break free from the shackles of self-criticism and shame, and to embrace a more fulfilling, authentic, and emotionally vibrant way of being.
If you would like to find out more about CFT, or any of our other therapies, get in touch with Dr Ragaven today to arrange an appointment. Call 07367 117553 for a friendly chat or email contact@therapywaves.co.uk today.
