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Community Discussion Lists



Mission and Aims


Our discussion lists are email based listservs that enable individuals to come together and discuss the science and practice of Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training. We host these discussion lists through Gaggle Mail. Those wishing to join these lists should have some familiarity with the basic CFT model, and please note that these lists are intended for those who are working in the area, and the majority of discussions will be around clinical issues.

There are a number of different discussion lists to choose from - and you are welcome to join as many as you would like. The three  discussion lists highlighted below correspond to the three areas in which the Foundation is principally involved, and were the first to be introduced in 2011. We also have a number of discussion lists which connect with our special interest groups, and which are focused on the science and practice of CFT and CMT in areas of clinical interest or with particular communities and populations.

Discussion List Subscription

Receiving emails

There are three different options for how you can receive discussion list emails, and you can select your preferred option on your Gaggle Mail Member Profile:

Immediately (emails come into your inbox as soon they are sent)

Digest (collates emails into one email - usually once a day)

Pause (stop receiving emails (but you can view the list activity online)

You will also be able to log in to your member profile and access an online archive of messages, and we now have a section called Files which collates all of the attachments (such as papers) into one area so they are easily accessible. If you have any problems, you are welcome to contact Hannah, who oversees all of our lists.

List Engagement

In order for our discussion lists to thrive, it is important for all members to engage with discussions compassionately and respectfully. Please remember these lists are for exchanging ideas, sharing good practice, information and resources which help us all to learn more. Thus, we kindly request that the discussions are kept relevant and constructive (refraining from critical or defamatory comments). While discussion of different views is welcomed, it is important to recognise that the focus should remain within our remit.

As we have recently moved our lists onto a new platform, we're also giving new guidelines for list behaviour. We have been taking advice over some months now from colleagues in other schools of therapy on to how to create an open, free list but at the same time ensure that people are respectful, particularly when there are strong disagreements. So here are the guidelines we propose - at the moment they're not finalised so if any list member would like to comment on them we'd be delighted to take feedback. We plan to have them finalised by the end of July 2024.

Codes of Conduct

Given the above core aims of the discussion list we ask members to adhere to the following compassion principals:

a) Members will have a basic interest in the evolutionary and biopsychosocial approach to compassion and respect that this is a list for Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training approaches, rather than compassion more generally. While other perspectives and insights are welcome, it is important that we enable this list to remain sufficiently focused.
b) Members will remember that these are closed groups, and messages are only intended for other members.  As this is a psychotherapeutic list, and may include discussion of clinical problems, members must not include any  information that may identify, or in any way compromise, existing or former clients or patients. 
c) Members will treat other members with respect and compassion, and refrain from offensive interpersonal behaviours and/or toxic rhetoric.
d) Members will – as best they can – be empathically mindful of other members, and remember that this is an email discussion list which means it only conveys information through text.   
e) Members will be mindful that email messages can be misconstrued both in terms of content and emotional tone. Differences of view are welcomed and valued but should be conducted in friendly and open ways.
f) Members will refrain from any personal attacks toward other members, or towards ethnic
groups, or from sharing of personal information or correspondence that could be considered libellous.

Sanctions

Members can be removed from the list in the event that they infringe orcontravene the above, or engage in harmful behaviours including:
a) A member knowingly presents false or misleading information to the list.
b) A member uses their connections on the list to exploit others.
c) A member engages in the use of language and rhetoric which is harmful to others. In the case of conflict of views, a members use     shaming or derogatory language toward those they are in conflict with, or  to assert their argument.
d) A member seeks to undermine the function of the list with inappropriate controversies.

Complaints Procedure

If any members wish to make a complaint, either about the list or about specific members’ conduct, complaints should be sent to Hannah, the list administrator, via hannah.gilbert@compassionatemind.co.uk. Should members make a complaint, this will be investigated by a list moderating committee and the Foundation's Trustee Board, and appropriate action will be taken. In the interest of full transparency, the target of a complaint will have the right to be advised of the complaint (anonymously) and respond before final action, and members have the right to appeal decisions made to remove their membership.  

Please note: Participants are clinically and personally responsible for how they use any of the materials learned through the list or the Foundation’s website. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy for full details.