The impact of compassionate mind training on qualified health professionals undertaking a compassion‐focused therapy module

Abstract

Background: Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) aim to help people cultivate compassion for self and others. To date, there is little evidence exploring the effects CMT has on those engaged in or embarking on a career in the helping professions. Interventions that encourage self-reflection and self-practice may help practitioners cultivate self-compassion, leading to the promotion of self-care.Aim: To explore the impact CMT has on students' levels of self-compassion and selfcriticism, and on their work as healthcare practitioners/counsellors/psychotherapists. Methodology:This was a mixed-methods study (N = 15). Pre-and post-quantitative data were collected via three questionnaires: The Self-Compassion Scale-SF, the Forms of Self-Criticising/Self-Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale and the Functions of Self-Criticising/Self-Attacking Scale. Qualitative data were collected via diaries and a focus group to portray the impact training had on students.Findings: Results revealed a statistically significant increase in self-compassion posttraining and a statistically significant increase in scores on the reassured self subscale.Statistically significant reductions in self-correction scores and inadequate self scores were observed post-training. There was no statistical significant difference post-training on the hated self or self-persecution subscales. Themes identified from the weekly diaries included the following: the benefits of compassion; when compassion arises; and difficulties and opportunities. Themes identified by the focus group data included the following: self-reflection and self-practice; finding balance; and critical self and compassionate self.Implications: Incorporating interventions into education programmes that help student's foster compassion may help them cultivate a compassionate mindset and learn to be kinder to self.

Nurturing compassion in schools: A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a Compassionate Mind Training program for teachers

“…In the current study, and contrarily to our hypothesis, no significant interaction effects of the CMT-T were found on self-criticism. Although previous research using CMT in community samples [ 66 , 67 , 79 ] and other professional groups [e.g., psychotherapy students, 73 , healthcare educators and professionals, 68 , 69 ] found changes in self-criticism, similar results to ours were reported in the pilot studies of CMT for teachers in Portugal [CMT-T; 87 ] and the UK [ 32 ]. Despite in the refined version of the CMT-T, implemented in the present study, self-criticism having been addressed throughout the sessions and specifically on module 5, the decreasing trend in self-criticism levels that could be observed in the CMT-T group did not reach statistical significance.…”

“…Our results go beyond those of an earlier version of the CMT-T where improvements in self-compassion [as measured by the Self-Compassion Scale, SCS; 122 ] were only significant with increased practice of the techniques introduced [and not just session attendance), as supported by the qualitative analyses [ 32 ]. Furthermore, these findings are also in support of studies using CMT in other professions that found significant increases in self-compassion (as measured by the SCS) in health care educators and providers [ 68 ], mental health professionals [ 69 ], psychotherapy students [ 73 ], and firefighters [ 72 ].…”

“…This was an unexpected finding, which might be related to the elevated baseline scores in this measure and to the parallel increase in burnout levels in these WLC participants. As a whole, the present results add to prior CMT studies with teachers where this flow of compassion was not specifically evaluated using a recognised quantitative measure [ 32 ] and with other professions [e.g., healthcare educators and professionals, 68 , 69 ; fire service personnel, 72 ].…”

“…CMT has been tailored for use with different formats (e.g., length, practices) in nonclinical populations, namely the general public [ 66 , 67 ], health care educators and providers [ 68 ], mental health professionals [ 69 ], nurses [ 70 , 71 ], firefighters [ 72 ] and psychotherapy students [ 73 ]. There is a mounting evidence base for CMT effectiveness in improving mental and physiological health and prosocial behaviour [ 56 , 59 , 62 , 63 ].…”

Wellbeing in Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Personal Resources and Exhaustion

“…One of the best known is Compassionate Mind Training (CMT), conceived by Paul Gilbert [130,131], which aims to develop compassion towards oneself through mindful attention training, soothing rhythm breathing, and compassionate imagery. Several studies have shown its effectiveness among workers [102,[132][133][134] and also as an integration to education programs for future practitioners [135,136]. Another intervention strongly supported by scientific evidence is that of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), developed by Joh Kabat-Zinn [137,138].…”