Diploma in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

All aspects of the course are delivered online.

Each week of the course has some activities, which include:

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Induction and workshops

Induction and workshops have set timings; there is a full or half day workshop approximately every 2/3 weeks. You can request a draft timetable by emailing us at cftdiploma@compassionatemind.co.uk

You are encouraged to attend as many live sessions as possible since you will benefit from being present. However, presentations are recorded so that you can catch up if you are unable to attend live online.

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Guided reading small group work

During guided reading week, specific reading will be provided and or video clips for you to read and watch. You will then be asked to write a500-word summary of what you have read and watched.

You will then share your writing and thoughts in a small group online (these groups will not be recorded). A spokesperson for the group will summarise the work of the group and post it on Thinkific (the learning platform).

Further guidance will be available on Thinkific. Guided reading and small group work is expected to run every two weeks.

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Supervision

When you apply for the course, you will be asked to indicate your availability for two-hour group supervision. Supervisors will also have identified their availability. Wendy Wood the programme leader, will allocate supervision groups based on mutual availability. She will make every effort to meet the needs of trainees and supervisors.

Supervision runs approximately every 2/3 weeks, with five two-hour sessions in the first module and five two-hour sessions in the second module. You are required to attend 80% of supervision sessions.

Supervision will not be recorded.

The cost is £5,300

You can pay:

1.     Online

2.     Request an invoice and pay via bank transfer/credit card

3.     Request an invoice and pay via PayPal

4.     Request an invoice and pay in instalments – this option is given with the view to spread payments – in this case, we can offer50% at start and 25% at 10 weeks and 25% at 15 weeks.

We also offer discounts and grants on the following basis:

1.     For organisations we offer discounts when sending more than one person in the same cohort (2 trainees – 15% discount and for 3trainees 20% discount).

2.     For individuals, we have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Fund (EDIF) grant to support people from a diverse range of backgrounds and assist in their inclusion in the Diploma in CFT. We are able to provide grants to a maximum of £4350. The number of grants we can offer depends on how many applications we receive and how much you are able to contribute to the full fee of £5,300. Here is a link to the application form which provides more information https://forms.office.com/e/rqLb1cYFX3

Please note what follows is indicative content and may vary depending on the group's needs and the development of the CFT model.

The course is delivered in two parts:

The first part of the course covers the basic science and model of CFT, including an exploration of its origins. More specifically, it includes:

·        The basis of the evolutionary informed biopsychosocial model of the mind highlights the need to be sensitive to the physiological, psychological, and social contexts of people's mental health difficulties.

·        How and why evolution does not create 'perfect' designs but ones that are often compromised and 'tricky'.

·        The nature of the four basic functions of mind: motives, emotions, competencies, and behaviours, and the interconnection and coregulation.

·        How and why CFT is a motivation focused approach with a particular focus on social affiliative relationships.

·        Afunctional analysis of (the evolution of) emotion in terms of the functions to: 1. avoid harm and identify threat, 2. seek and explore for resources and rewards, 3. when satisfied, experience states of contentment and safeness(evolving from the rest and digest function).

·        Functional analysis in terms of cognitive competencies of 1. reasoning, imagining, planning, attributing etc., 2. empathy and role sensitivity, 3. consciousness of consciousness enabling mindfulness, self-observation, and a subjective self-experience. Therapy may be guiding clients to develop their skills in any or all of these three domains.

·        Functional analysis of behaviour and how to plan behavioural practices; since to learn skills we need to enact them.

·        Trainees will be guided through the importance of understanding attachment in terms of its profoundly important role in evolution that provided the bedrock for complex social relating, the impact early attachment relationships have on people, and the core processes of secure base and safe haven that underpin compassion.

·        Most psychotherapies focus on processes of experiential avoidance of some kind; in CFT, this is also crucial but with a particular focus on fears, blocks and resistances to creating and using compassionate mind states. This can be because the care motivational system has been conceptualised or is contextually suppressed.

The second part involves bringing the knowledge of the approach to applied clinical problems and issues and deepening CFT clinical skills. It includes:

·        A deeper understanding of the nature of compassion.

·        Understanding the nature and complexities of the therapeutic relationship and how to conceptualise it as a therapeutic process.

·        The importance of conceptualising therapeutic change is rooted in creating a secure base and safe haven.

·        The complex interactions between challenge and playfulness.

·        Developing the compassion focused formulation.

·        The nature of functional analysis.

·        Using functional analysis to work with self-criticism and shame, explaining and exploring multi-self and the interaction between threat-based emotions such as anger, anxiety, and sadness.

·        How to use chairwork to engage in different aspects of the self.

·        The use of acting techniques.

·        The use of imagery, or where that's difficult it's equivalent.

·        Ways of deepening the experience of the compassionate self and compassionate image.

·        Ways of working with the fear and resistance to compassion.

The assessment is via three methods:

1.     A 3,000-word case study; or a 30–60-minuterecorded presentation.

2.     A video role play demonstration of the use of CFT with a 3,000-word written critical analysis; or a video role play demonstration of the use of CFT with a 20–30-minute recorded presentation of your critical analysis.

3.     A portfolio of evidence including:

Ø  Reflective summary of supervision

Ø  Evidence of 40 hours of clinical practice using CFT with groups and/or individual clients;

Ø  Evidence of 20 hours of clinical supervision.

CFT is rooted in an evolution informed, biopsychosocial model of mental states. The course will outline and indicate how mental states arise from the interactions of four basic processes; Motives (such as to avoid harm, to acquire resources, and for different types of social relationship),Emotions (which are short-lived shifts of psychophysiological state such as anger, anxiety, joy), Competencies (which relate to our abilities to do things such as the use of reasoning, empathy, mindfulness), and Behaviour output systems. We know, for example, that direct behaviour change can have very important impacts on other processes. CFT addresses the organisation of these four key processes but with a special focus on motivation and forms of social connectedness. CFT highlights how the evolution of caring and affiliative behaviour had fundamental impacts on the evolution of the brain, and how caring focused motives are known to regulate multiple mental processes in quite different ways to competitive motives.

Trainees will be introduced to the three basic emotion regulation systems of threat, resource seeking, and resting and digesting, and how these are patterned within different types of mental health difficulties and are key to well-being. The vast majority of mental health difficulties relate to the regulation of the threat system, which can be understood both in terms of its motivation (harm avoidance) and the emotional structures (e.g., anger, anxiety, disgust).

Trainees will be guided through the importance of creating compassionate mind states because these organise a range of psychophysiological systems that help regulate threats and promote well-being. Trainees will learn how clients and ourselves can utilise compassionate mind states to address specific problems such as depression, anxiety and trauma. CFT suggests that it is the ability to create these different psychophysiological patterns in the mind that enable us to work with problematic motives and emotions, problems of shame, and negative self to self-relating. Commonly, the big challenges are that clients can be fearful or resistant to creating compassionate mind states.

CFT utilises therapeutic techniques from many major psychotherapies, including cognitive behavioural, emotional focused, embodied, and psychodynamic. Trainees will be expected to have competencies in basic micro-skills and clinical experience with mental health difficulties.

The course will encourage you to network with fellow trainees and connect to the wider world community of compassion focused therapists. While training, you will be made a member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, giving you access to a range of clinical and training materials. The course is taught and supervised by leading CFT therapists.

Entry Criteria

·      You will need a qualification in a psychological health-related profession such as mental health nursing, clinical psychology, therapeutic counselling, with a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience working in the capacity as a counsellor/psychotherapist.

·        Evidence of some training in CFT (e.g., 3-dayintroductory course, advanced course, conference attendance, supervision).

·        You will need to have access to a minimum of 4 clients to provide contracted psychotherapy using CFT in one-to-one or group work for a minimum of 40 hours between September and May.

·        Be prepared to engage in role play.

·        Be prepared to engage in self-practice.

·        Clinical supervision is in place for your general clinical practice (course supervision is explicitly provided for CFT, not as a replacement for your regular clinical practice).

·        Membership of an appropriate professional body with a code of conduct.

·        Maintain membership of the Compassionate Mind Community.

·        Maintain Membership of the Compassionate Mind Foundation discussion groups.

·        Internet connection that facilitates onlinelearning. The basic requirement for zoom is an internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE). Minimum bandwidth is 6 Mbps. Please check your internet bandwidth, you can do this using Speed test https://www.speedtest.net/

·        Access to Zoom.

·        Access to YouTube.

·        Proof of professional indemnity insurance (or cover from your organisation) (where applicable).

·        Written and verbal English skills as the course is delivered in English.

·        Successful interview (all applicants are interviewed before an offer of a place on the course is made).

·        To have sufficient time to engage in a minimum of 6-10 hours per week study between September and June including:

Ø Masterclasses 6.5 hours every two weeks

Ø Clinical hours

Ø Supervision 2 hours every two weeks (80%attendance)

Ø Small group work 2 hours every two weeks

Ø Study time

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Application Process

To apply, please complete the application form using the link provided on this webpage below.

If you meet the criteria for the course, you will be invited to attend an interview by Zoom. You will be offered a place subject to a successful interview and suitable reference and the availability of places on the course.

Applications are welcome throughout the year. We accept applications up to the 31^stAugust for a September start.

You will achieve a Compassionate Mind Foundation Diploma(BPS Approved for 600 CPD hours) in Compassion Focused Therapy (Assessed). Please note: The Compassionate Mind Foundation is not an accrediting body, as such, we do not accredit individual therapists.

We typically expect you to complete the course by the beginning of June. However, we understand that life is sometimes unpredictable. If you cannot complete the course due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be possible to arrange for you to join another cohort. You will need to discuss this with the programme leader.

You can complete an extension form indicating an appropriate submission date.

You will be provided with support feedback and guidance and a timescale to resubmit your assignment. There is no extra cost to re-submit. If you are unsuccessful after resubmitting your assignment, we will work with you to consider how we might support you further.

Refunds are available on the following scale:
·        Withdrawal within the first month after the official registration date: 80% of fees.
·        Withdrawal within the second month after the official registration date: 60% of fees.
·        Students withdrawing after this time will not be entitled to a refund of fees.

We are currently working on further courses, and we will keep our website updated on this and the CFT discussion forum. The Compassionate Mind Foundation provides lots of training workshops in a range of areas relating to clinical process and application.
If you need any further information, please contact email CFTdiploma@compassionatemind.co.uk