Compassionate Mind Training: An 8-week group for the general public.

OBJECTIVES

There is an increasing interest in how compassion training, and in particular, the cultivation of self-compassion may be an important component in the reduction of distress and promotion of well-being. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) has shown promising results in this area, with positive outcome studies in a wide range of mental health problems. However, following the successful development of short mindfulness-based programmes (e.g., Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy) and compassion/self-compassion programmes (e.g., Mindful Self-Compassion) that can be accessed by the general public, we were keen to develop and research an 8-week Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) course, based on the CFT model.

DESIGN

Within-subjects pre-to-post-group comparison.

METHODS

Following an 8-week CMT groups, participants in the general population (n = 55) completed pre- and post-measures (with 22 of these also providing 3-month follow-up data) on self-compassion, compassion for others, compassion from others, attachment, self-criticism, positive emotion, well-being, and distress.

RESULTS

Significant increases in compassion, self-reassurance, social rank, positive emotions, and well-being were found, alongside reductions in self-criticism, attachment anxiety, and distress. Changes were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Change scores indicated the importance of increases in self-compassion and reductions in self-criticism in overall improvements in well-being and psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings offer preliminary support for the usefulness of group CMT in community samples.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) groups appear to be applicable and beneficial in community samples. CMT psychoeducation and practices appear to bring positive changes to a variety of psychological processes, including attachment, self-criticism, self-compassion, well-being, and distress. Further studies are required to investigate whether the mechanisms through which CMT is beneficial.