How we can help you with Compassion Focused Therapy
At Balanced Minds, everything we do is guided by Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and how self-compassion can transform your life. Since 2012 we’ve helped thousands of people in three main ways:
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Organise to meet one of our warm, supportive and experienced therapists who specialise in CFT & other evidenced based psychological approaches
CFT and Self-Compassion Self-Help
Want help, but feel that therapy isn't quite right at the moment? Explore our compassion inspired online courses, books, audios & videos
Compassion Focused Therapy Training
Are you a therapist, clinician or professional interested in learning more about compassion and CFT? Find out about our training, courses & events
Compassion Focused Therapy
Are you struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem or depression? Have you lost your focus, drive or passion for life? Do you feel low in confidence, like you’ll never be good enough? Or perhaps you’re just feeling flat, uninspired and a little lost.
If so, Compassion Focused Therapy could be what you’ve been looking for.
We understand that life can sometimes be hard and everyone struggles from time to time. With so much to think about, external pressures and the constant juggle of life, it’s easy to be critical and hard on yourself. To feel fed up, frustrated or overwhelmed.
CFT offers a caring, effective and evidence-based solution. Our professional, qualified and experienced therapists can help you break free from negative self-talk and unhelpful behaviour patterns.
We can help to develop your self-worth and self-confidence so you can lead a happier and more contented life.
Self-Compassion & Compassion Focused Therapy
Self-Help
Guided by the ideas and practices in Compassion Focused Therapy, we have a wide variety of evidenced based self-help resources and materials that guide you on the path towards happiness and wellbeing.
Self-Compassion App and Courses
Find out about our evidence based self-compassion app and online self-guided courses
CFT and Self-Compassion Audios
Explore our free to access compassionate mind training (CMT) audio practices
Compassion and CFT
Videos
Explore our collection of interesting compassion based videos and vlogs
CFT and Compassion Books and Reading
Check out these inspiring compassion-based self-help books, and our blog
Compassion Focused Therapy Training
Are you a therapist, health care practitioner or coach, and interested in learning more about how to use Compassion Focused Therapy in your job?
We’ve got a variety of trainings tailored to those just starting off on their compassion journey, and for people who want to deepen and develop their knowledge and skills further.
Two Day Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy
Learn the key ideas, theory and practices of CFT
Learn to run Compassionate Mind Training groups
Find out about of CMT facilitator training
Specialist & Bespoke Compassion Focused Therapy Workshops
Learn how to use CFT in specific settings & groups
Apply Compassion in Organisations and Business
Learn about our workplace & staff wellbeing courses
Some of the organisations we’ve worked
We’ve been spreading compassion far & wide
Balanced Minds Reviews
What is Compassion Focused Therapy?
CFT is an integrated psychological approach. It draws from a number of different ideas, theories, practices and interventions but at it’s heart it focuses on two key aspects: (i) The desire to reduce and alleviate distress and suffering and (ii) The desire for happiness, wellbeing, content and connection
The beauty of this approach is that it can help people in different ways. Sometimes we might want to prioritise reducing distress, but at others the focus will be more in cultivating the positive – relationships, meaning and happiness.
Either way, research has found that what helps us to do this is compassion. And here, compassion has three important directions that we can build and strengthen
1. Compassion to others, which helps us feel connected, helpful and useful
2. Compassion from others, which helps us feel cared for, supported and connected
3. Self-compassion, which helps us treat ourselves in a similar way that we might a good friend or loved one.
People high in self-compassion have repeatedly been found to have lower levels of psychological and mental health distress, as well as higher levels of wellbeing and happiness
There are now thousands of studies looking at the benefits of developing greater compassion for ourselves and others. Consistently, research has found that compassion – like a muscle or skill (e.g. sport, music, language) and be practiced, strengthened and cultivated. Here are a few highlights
| Less | Higher |
| Self-criticism | Wellbeing |
| Worry | Happiness |
| Rumination | Self-confidence |
| Shame | Self-esteem |
| Depression, anxiety & Stress | Resilience |
How we can support you?
If you go to the gym, there are lots of different machines that all help you to get fit. Some might work on particular muscle groups, or others at your whole body, but each help to bring positive changes in fitness.
Similarly, at Balanced Minds, there are a number of ways that we can help you to develop greater compassion in your life. These include:
Therapy – we have a large team of empathetic, experienced and caring therapists who will support you in bringing changes to life. With options for face-to-face sessions in London or Edinburgh, or meeting online from the convenience of your own home, we can find the right match for you
Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) groups – in 2016 we developed an 8 week Compassionate Mind Training group, and published research showing the benefits for attendees. If you’re interested in developing your compassionate mind alongside caring, supportive others, this might be a good option for you.
Guided Audio Practices – if you’d like to practice exercises that have been shown to increase levels of compassion, we’ve got a number of free audios that will help
Guided Self-Help Courses – if you’re keen in developing your compassionate mind, but therapy isn’t the direction you’d like to go in, our self-help courses might be perfect for you. They are designed to over directed, guided ideas and exercises that evidenced based ways of improving wellbeing
Reading – we have published a number of compassion-inspired self-help books, designed to help you understand yourself better, and learn how to develop greater compassion for yourself and others
Self-Compassion App – we have been involved in developing an app that has been found to bring significant benefits to users psychological health
