Compassion Focused Therapists in 21405
Annamarie Pemberton
Counselor, LCPC, PMH-C
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Annapolis, MD 21405
It can be a powerful time for trauma work when starting a family of your own. Often my clients are young adults and new parents who are highly self critical to avoid being with messiness and what cannot be controlled. They use alcohol, substances, food, exercise, work/ busyness or caretaking to manage or stay away from feelings. Often they expect the worst and prepare to self protect and can be overly focused on the people around them. My clients share about anxiety or depression since childhood or have complicated family of origin dynamics.
It can be a powerful time for trauma work when starting a family of your own. Often my clients are young adults and new parents who are highly self critical to avoid being with messiness and what cannot be controlled. They use alcohol, substances, food, exercise, work/ busyness or caretaking to manage or stay away from feelings. Often they expect the worst and prepare to self protect and can be overly focused on the people around them. My clients share about anxiety or depression since childhood or have complicated family of origin dynamics.
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Compassion Focused Therapists
How does compassion-focused therapy work?
Compassion-Focused Therapy is based on the idea that humans have at least three emotion regulation systems, including one that responds to threats and another that allows us to self-soothe. Those who experienced serious childhood adversity, the theory goes, have a hyperactive threat system and an underperforming self-soothing system, leaving them vulnerable to shame and a hypercritical mindset. CFT focuses on bringing these systems back into balance, helping the client be kinder to themselves and better able to accept kindness from others.
Is compassion-focused therapy a type of CBT?
Compassion-focused therapy is closely related to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and employs many of its techniques. In addition to CBT, CFT also draws from the fields of biology, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, and Buddhism. It also has similarities to some types of trauma-focused therapies.
Is compassion-focused therapy evidence based?
Evidence suggests that CFT can be helpful in the treatment of anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, and other mental illnesses. It has also been shown to be beneficial for individuals who may not have diagnosable psychiatric disorders but who still struggle with persistent self-criticism and feelings of shame.
What are the limitations of compassion-focused therapy?
Compassion-focused therapy is still a relatively new therapy, and research on its efficacy is still in its early stages; while some studies have found positive results, many have suffered from quality issues or small sample sizes. And while most CFT clients find it difficult to practice self-compassion at first, some—especially those who actively fear compassion or are deeply uncomfortable being cared for—may not be fully open to the tenets of CFT, potentially limiting the therapy’s long-term effectiveness.