ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how compassion and self-compassion are integral to the psychotherapeutic journey for both therapists and clients, and discusses how ancient Buddhist teachings and contemporary scientific findings are lending support to the anecdotal evidence of clinical experience. Mindful awareness remains open and spacious when it is suffused by the four heart qualities: the boundless social emotions of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Compassion fatigue" may be more appropriately referred to as "empathy fatigue" or better "sympathy fatigue”. One goal of compassion-based therapy is to gradually desensitize the client to all of the positive affiliative emotions. Modern psychology describes the process of internalizing representations of secure, caring, and reliable self and other as a limited re-parenting. The safety of the therapeutic relationship can help the client to develop greater trust and safety within her own resources.
