Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy

Traditionally, people with attachment and relational trauma have been excluded from longer-term psychological therapies on the basis that they are ‘hard to engage’ and considered ‘untreatable’. This new model of group psychotherapy is underpinned by the theory and practice of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), with necessary adaptions to address the challenge of meeting the needs of individuals with complex trauma. This comprehensive handbook provides an overview of the five-phase model of Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy (CFGP), including case vignettes and qualitative data from patients who have completed the programme. Ideal for psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health staff, this publication will be the first to offer clinicians a step-by-step guide to setting up and running CFGP groups alongside accessible theory and practice tips.

Dr Kate Lucre is a Birmingham-based Consultant Psychotherapist and Supervisor specialising in the use of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) for complex attachment and relational trauma for groups and individuals. She has over 25 years’ experience working in statutory, NHS and social care organisations in the UK and overseas. Kate is the founder of Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy (CFGP) for people who would attract a diagnosis of personality disorder and has published the only data in this model, recently completing a 7-year follow-up study to this original research programme.