The Compassion Initiative: Just Two Guys in Brisbane talking Compassion. www.thecompassioninitiative.com.au

Forgiveness can be very difficult. We can't help but feel angry and resentful when someone hurts us! But the pain of resentment often just makes matters worse. In fact, forgiveness is an act of self-compassion. When we forgive another who has hurt us, then we let go of anger and resentment and we suffer less. But how do you go about it? Well, here are a few steps...and a little mantra that I find...

Resentment is a rather complex and painful human emotion. It can cause us a lot of suffering! But self-compassion can help. In this video we take a look at resentment, what it is, how it shows up in our feelings, thoughts and behaviours, and then offer 8 compassion focused steps you can take to let it go. If you would like a copy of The Gifts of Compassion, go here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Gifts...

Activating the compassionate self: slowing down the mind and body, and connecting with wisdom, strength and courage, and a caring-commitment, and deciding how can I be helpful to myself and others. This video takes you through the body-based practices and the three key qualities of the compassionate mind, in order for you to activate your compassionate self and live a compassionate life, inside an...

Ageing is difficult. Time flies by and we get older. And we can suffer. Self-compassion can help! I turned 50 today, and while in some ways this is still a relatively young age, in other ways my body is giving me lots of little clues and reminders that time is passing. And there are certain realities there that we can't avoid. So how can we approach ageing in a way that is most helpful? How can we...

We have compassion focused therapy (CFT) and we have compassionate mind training (CMT), but what is CMT exactly? CFT is a psychotherapy, and CMT is a part of CFT. But CMT can also be delivered as a more structured course. In this video, we dive a little deeper to understand some of the research behind CMT, as well as the session by session details of the course! If you would like to know more abou...

The COVID-19 pandemic has been really dragging on. And everyone is feeling it. There is an ever-present sense of threat and foreboding. in this video, Dr Stan Steindl summarises some recent research exploring the relationships between our perceived threat of COVID-19 and our mental health and social safeness outcomes...as well as the role fears of compassion might play in those relationships. And,...

Wait, what? Ted Lasso is afraid of compassion? We all can have certain fears of compassion, across one or other, or all, of the three flows: being compassionate towards others, receiving compassion from others, or being compassionate towards ourselves. Season 2 of Ted Lasso depicts these fears beautifully, as well as how, with persistence and hard work, we can work through these fears and create c...

Compassion focused therapy in a nutshell, and bringing compassion to the world! _____ Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Derby, Visiting Professor at the University of Queensland Australia, Founder of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, and recently retired Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Derbyshire Health Care Foundation Trust. Professor G...

In Episode 5, Paul talks about the inhibitors to compassion, the fears, blocks and resistances. As Paul says, in compassion focused therapy working with fears, blocks and resistances is the work! _____ Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Derby, Visiting Professor at the University of Queensland Australia, Founder of the Compassionate Mind Foundatio...

We are basically a species designed for caring and sharing, but socio-cultural factors push us towards competitiveness, selfishness and callousness with sometimes disastrous effects. _____ Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Derby, Visiting Professor at the University of Queensland Australia, Founder of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, and recent...

What is compassion? On the one hand, it is a simple algorithm: detecting suffering and taking action to alleviate or prevent it. And on the other, it is a rich array of qualities and characteristics all of which make up what it means to be human. Professor Paul Gilbert takes us through all of that, as well as how concepts of compassion can be helpful in a therapy sitting, and finishing with an emp...

In Episode 2 of Compassion in a T-Shirt: Short Shares with Professor Paul Gilbert Paul speaks about some remarkable observations he and colleagues made when working with clients, as well as by following the science, and how that led him down the path of warming up the tone of self-talk with a caring motivation and ultimately with compassion. _____ Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, is Professor of Clini...

Compassion in a T-Shirt: Short Shares with Professor Paul Gilbert will explore the life and work therapist, the researcher, and the founder of compassion focused therapy. In Episode 1, he speaks about his journey from childhood and adolescence, through training and research, arriving at a model of the mind and the inception of Compassion Focused Therapy. _____ Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, is Profe...

In this video, Alicia Carter, PhD candidate at University of Queensland School of Psychology, describes the 12 modules included in the group-based compassion focused therapy intervention for body weight shame she evaluated as part of her PhD. CFT, and the modules described in this video, was founded and developed by Professor Paul Gilbert, who also helped supervise Alicia's PhD. Alicia's primary s...

"We think that the end result of our PhD is a thesis, but really, it's you." Alicia Carter is an Australian provisional psychologist and candidate for both the Master of Health Psychology and PhD programs at School of Psychology, University of Queensland. She follows a scientist-practitioner model and seeks to explore how social and evolutionary theoretical frameworks assist psychotherapeutic appr...

"Teams know what are the blocks to compassion, what prevents them from being compassionate, and what are the things that they do that can actually enhance it." Dr Tony Fernando is a psychiatrist and researcher in Auckland, New Zealand. He obtained his medical degree from the University of the Philippines and his internship at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital (Columbia University) in New York. Tony’s r...

"As long as the sky exists, as long as there are sentient beings, may I remain to help and relieve them of their suffering." Dr Tony Fernando is a psychiatrist and researcher in Auckland, New Zealand. He obtained his medical degree from the University of the Philippines and his internship at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital (Columbia University) in New York. Tony’s research interest is in sleep medici...

Transforming shame with people who have intellectual disabilities: "I'm not all bad with stuff like this. I'm quite good!" Dr Johannes Graser is a Clinical Psychologist, licensed CBT-Therapist, Researcher and Lecturer based at Witten/Herdecke University in Germany. He has extensive training in CFT and has presented workshops on CFT and Loving Kindness Meditation. His research focuses on CFT for pa...

"Reaching...opening...gathering..."" Deirdre Fay, MSW, LICSW, integrates trauma and attachment theory with yoga and meditation in embodiment. The founder of the Becoming Safely Embodied Skills, she maintains a private practice working with individuals and groups and presenting around the world. She is the author of several books, most recently "Becoming Safely Embodied: A Guide to Organize Your Mi...

"What happened to me and how can I put myself back together again?" Deirdre Fay, MSW, LICSW, integrates trauma and attachment theory with yoga and meditation in embodiment. The founder of the Becoming Safely Embodied Skills, she maintains a private practice working with individuals and groups and presenting around the world. She is the author of several books, most recently "Becoming Safely Embodi...

“I’m not going to take your ambition away, I’m just going to help you not drown in it.” Michaela Thomas is a UK-based Clinical Psychologist and couples therapist with over fifteen years' experience. She established and runs The Thomas Connection, and has recently published a couples and compassion book called "The Lasting Connection". Michaela's special interests lie in Compassion Focused Therapy,...

Somatic Self-Compassion: checking in with the interoceptive experience, buckets of choice to create safeness, and individualised approaches to soothing. Kristy Arbon is an experienced mindfulness and mindful self-compassion teacher and trainer. She has had a long association with Drs Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, and was administrator for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. She has work...

"CFT is something we learn and embody and it becomes a part of the process of all the things that we do." Dr Hayley D Quinn is a Clinical Psychologist, Supervisor and Trainer based at The Compassionate Well-Being Centre in Brisbane, Australia. She has extensive training in CFT and has presented workshops in Australia and overseas. She’s a strong believer in supporting practitioners to incorporate...

"It was about the connection with other people, not feeling alone, other people understanding how I feel...the humanness." Alison Dixon is a senior Psychological Therapist and supervisor in the UK, and has worked in NHS psychology services for over 10 years. She works with people experiencing a wide range of difficulties and specializes in addressing longstanding relationship problems. She has pub...

“I believe that advocacy is lending your power or your voice to someone or something who needs it.” Dr. Watson is a public speaker, author, and podcaster, as well as President and Founder of The Advocacy Academy, based in Philadelphia, USA. She has conducted educational workshops throughout the US and internationally, and across many fields: healthcare, education, social services, financial advisi...