In this episode of 'Compassion in a T Shirt,' I am joined by Lisa Williams, an experienced cognitive behavior therapist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. We explore the integration of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) into treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Lisa discusses her journey incorporating CFT into her practice, the importance of understanding early life experiences, and how CFT works alongside traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques such as exposure and response prevention.

The conversation delves into the distressing nature of OCD, the role of compassion in managing it, and practical strategies for therapists and sufferers alike. Essential viewing for therapists, individuals dealing with OCD, and those interested in the compassionate approach to mental health.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:56 Lisa Williams' Journey into CFT

10:18 Understanding OCD and Its Impact

17:56 Formulating OCD Through a CFT Lens

20:16 Exploring Early Life Experiences

30:59 The Role of Evolutionary Psychology in CFT

37:52 Exploring Compassion and Self-Compassion

38:15 Threat-Based Drive and Emotional Regulation

39:22 Introducing Compassionate Concepts

40:06 Building a Compassionate Community

41:06 Family Dynamics and Compassion

42:37 Challenges in Receiving Compassion

43:27 Daily Practices and Group Activities

47:03 CFT Strategies for OCD

50:36 Compassionate Imagery and Its Challenges

57:14 Integrating CFT with CBT

01:05:54 Resources and Recommendations

LINKS:

The Compassionate Mind (Gilbert, 2013)

https://amzn.to/4hHjvsQ

The Compassionate Mind Workbook: A step-by-step guide to developing your compassionate self (Irons & Beaumont, 2017)

https://amzn.to/4gPMxVL

The Compassionate Mind Approach to Recovering from Trauma: Using Compassion Focused Therapy (Lee & James, 2012)

https://amzn.to/4kdaDNo

Experiencing Compassion-Focused Therapy from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists (Kolts et al., 2018)

https://amzn.to/4k0BLyY

If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Gifts-Compassion-understand-overcome-suffering/dp/1925644480

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Video hashtags:

compassion focused therapy, obsessive compulsive disorder, paul gilbert, deborah lee, cft, compassion, self-compassion, nhs, Bethlem Royal Hospital