A Service Based Evaluation of Compassion Focused Group Therapy Within a Community Mental Health Team Setting

Abstract

The current paper explores the impact of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) when delivered in a group setting to people with a range of diagnoses presenting to a Community Mental Health Team. In total five groups of 14 to 18 sessions were run with an average of five participants completing each group. A range of self-report measures examining global psychological distress, self-criticism, depression, anxiety and stress, emotion regulation, social comparison, shame and compassionate attributes and skills were administered pre and post group. Results indicate overall reductions in psychological distress, depression, anxiety and stress and suggest improved emotion regulation and improved perception of social rank and how others may see them following completion of the group. In addition participants appeared to rate themselves as more compassionate towards themselves and more accepting of compassion from others following the group, according to the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales. These results appear to be generally in keeping with the findings of other similar studies examining the effectiveness of CFT groups with trans-diagnostic populations thus adding to the evidence base in this area, however larger, more robust trials including a control group for comparison would be beneficial.