Compassion Focused Therapy Postgraduate Diploma

Module 1 - Fundamentals of Compassion Focused Therapy

This module provides 40 credits of 120 credits PG Dip CFT. It is designed to teach the fundamental skills necessary to practice CFT in a clinical setting. These skills will be assessed by a 3,000-word essay and two presentations.

This module teaches the therapeutic model and fundamental skills required for clinical practice as a CFT Therapist. It will introduce students to CFT, and the evidence base that underpins the model. It will also introduce students to the CFT approach to formulation and how to collaboratively develop formulations with patients. Student’s competencies in critically appraising relevant literature and evaluating clinical outcome will also be developed.

Module outcomes

• Upon successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental theory and research underpinning CFT.
• Critically evaluate the evidence base that underpins the CFT model and CFT treatment outcomes
• Use therapeutic skills to establish and maintain a positive therapeutic relationship conducive to CFT.
• Assess and formulate psychological distress using the CFT model.
• Demonstrate an understanding of shame and self-criticism and be able to use appropriate tools in order to assess shame and self-criticism.
• Understand CFT formulation approaches and collaboratively develop formulations with patients.

This module will also provide 16 hours of group clinical supervision (maximum of four students per group) provided by Dr Ken Goss.

This module provides 40 credits of 120 credits PG Dip CFT. It is designed to teach the key intervention skills necessary to practice CFT in a clinical setting. These skills will be assessed through the submission of a case study, evaluation of a recorded clinical session and a reflective practice essay following attendance at a CFT Retreat.

This module teaches key therapeutic interventions used by CFT therapists. These include; affect recognition and management skills, mindfulness, developing the soothing system, imagery and two chair work, compassionate inference chaining, compassionate letter writing and thought balancing, and how to apply these in individual and group treatment.

The module teaches students how to use a CFT formulation to understand the therapeutic relationship and how CFT can be used to address difficulties within the therapeutic relationship. The final part of this module introduces students to the use of CFT in both group and individual treatment settings.

Experiential learning will be provided through participation in a CFT Retreat, which facilitates experiential learning and reflective practice. Students will also continue to attend 15 hours of group clinical supervision.

Module outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Utilize specific CFT interventions.
• Select and implement appropriate CFT interventions based on case formulations and /or clinical presentations in both group and individual treatment.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key CFT techniques through writing up a case study detailing an intervention.
• Demonstrate an ability to use the CFT model to increase self-awareness and reflective practice following participation in the CFT retreat.
• Understand how CFT is used to address problems within the therapeutic relationship.

This module provides 40 credits of 120 credits PG Dip CFT. It is designed to teach the key intervention skills necessary to practice CFT in a clinical setting with different clinical populations. These skills will be assessed through submission of a case study, evaluation of a recorded clinical session and a case presentation.

This module teaches the application of CFT for specific clinical populations, including working with a range of adult mental health problems, working with children and adolescents, and working with carers. It also explores how students will take forward their personal and professional learning from the Diploma course and how this will be applied to their on-going clinical practice and development. The module will be taught by national and international experts who will provide workshops on CFT for specific populations such as working with children, working in inpatient settings, CFT for anger, using CFT to treat trauma.

Students will also continue to attend 15 hours of group clinical supervision.

Module outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of how CFT can be applied within different clinical settings with different populations.
• Critically evaluate a completed piece of clinical work using a CFT formulation and treatment approach with a patient attending for individual or group based treatment. Utilise specific CFT interventions as taught in this module.
• Critically consider how they may apply CFT in the longer term in their clinical work.