ABSTRACT
The idea of combining compassion focused therapy (CFT) and mindfulness was born from two almost simultaneous encounters: that of meeting Paul Gilbert and Choden in 2008 at Holy Island and, a little later, two of the three co-authors beginning to train together in these two approaches in Great Britain. These two models are congruent and miscible in varying proportions depending on the patient’s needs and the therapist’s orientation. After a brief review of the literature and how compassion focused therapy applies to working with mindfulness, the authors will describe the synthesis they have made of these two approaches with its indications and contraindications, the protocol, and the content of the 24 sessions that constitute the programme. Detailed discussion of the different therapeutic interventions will be provided (e.g. how modified mindfulness practices integrating elements of CFT will help build a compassionate mind, bringing the compassionate mind to particular therapeutic tasks and addressing blocks, fears, and resistances). Finally, the results of an efficacy study carried out in the University Hospital of Caen, will be presented as part of a general discussion of the value of this combined approach. Lastly, we will conclude with a brief evocation of our training institute, the Compassionate Mind Foundation France, which has helped teach several hundred mental health professionals in France since 2012.
