MINDFULNESS AND SELF COMPASSION Dr Gerard Pauley Four

MINDFULNESS AND SELF COMPASSION Dr. Gerard Pauley

Four Key Points 1) 2) 3) 4) What is Compassion Focussed Therapy? Why is being mindful important to the process of becoming compassionate to self? How do we model and provide the care and attention required for this process? What is the future in this area?

Compassion Focussed Therapy Evolved out of regular reports of incongruence: “I can think that I am okay, but I don’t feel it. ” Developed to target shame and self-criticism (internal & external threats) Focus on developing positive emotions, e. g. , safeness, soothing. Considers a range of perspectives including: evolutionary, neurological, attachment theory, cognitive-behavioural, and mindfulness (Buddhist).

Multiple Processing Systems Basic Emotional Regulation Social Mentalities Cognitive Systems Self-Identity

Three Types of Affect Regulation System

Stimulus-Response Sexual Bully-threat Meal Sex Limbic system Stomach acid Saliva Kind, warm and caring Bullythreat Compassion Soothed Safe Arousal Fearful Depressed

Key Targets of Therapy Attention Thinking Reasoning Imagery Fantasy Behaviour Motivation Emotions

Key Targets of Compassion Attention Imagery Fantasy Motivation Thinking Reasoning Compassion Behaviour Emotions

Multi-modal Compassionate Mind Training SKILLS TRAINING Imagery Warmth Attention ATTRIBUTE S Sympathy Sensitivity Care for well-being Feeling Warmth Compassion Non-Judgement Reasoning Distress tolerance Empathy Behaviour Sensory Warmth

Contrast of a Competitive Mind

The Importance of Mindfulness Helps to counter the trivialisation of changing the relationship with self. Developing self-compassion requires a wise space. This ‘space’ is one in which people can try out a different relationship with self: you would not embark on this process without being able to adopt a different stance to it.

The Importance of Mindfulness Question: What happens when you just sit with yourself? Question: How might you go about learning to sit with yourself? Once you can do that you can: Reflect rather than avoid your experiences Develop a different perspective Accept the emotions and thoughts that arise Have a relationship between you and your mind

Encouraging a Compassionate Mindfulness The truth of self-experience. Validating the uniqueness of the experience. Providing a rationale for Mindfulness. Self Compassion The underlying approach of CFT: demonstrating compassion in session. The attributes we endeavour to teach should be engendered in session. Toe-dipping to full emersion with kindness and support.

The Future Accessibility of Mindfulness & Compassion. Encouraging structural change: Compassionate communities. Refocusing on the process of therapy: How I am with you helps you to change. Evolution of new therapeutic techniques informed both by science and clinical experience.