How Compassion Transforms the Mind - Professor Paul Gilbert OBE

Professor Paul Gilbert is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the Founder of Compassion Focused Therapy. Paul has dedicated his life to researching the science of compassion and how it can be applied to alleviate suffering and promote wellbeing.
He is the author of numerous books, including “The Compassionate Mind”, “Mindful Compassion”, “Living Like Crazy”, “Overcoming Depression”, and most recently: “Compassion Focused Therapy: Clinical Practice and Applications”. In 2011, Paul was awarded an OBE for his continued contribution in mental healthcare.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss:
- Why Paul has devoted his life to understanding and applying compassion to alleviate suffering
- The core foundations CFT is built upon
- How to “get through” to difficult clients in therapy
- The evolutionary origins of shame and guilt, and the role they play in mental health and more.
You can learn more about Paul’s work and trainings in CFT by going to www.compassionatemind.co.uk.
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This session was recorded as part of the Holistic Psychotherapy Summit on January 2023. To access the full conference package, as well as supporting materials, quizzes, and certification, please visit: holisticpsychotherapysummit.com
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Professor Paul Gilbert, FBPsS, PhD, OBE is a British clinical psychologist, the founder of compassion focused therapy (CFT), compassionate mind training (CMT) and author of books such as The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life’s Challenges, Overcoming Depression.
He has researched evolutionary approaches to psychopathology for over 40 years with a special focus on the roles of mood, shame and self-criticism in various mental health difficulties for which Compassion Focused Therapy was developed. Professor Gilbert has written/edited 21 books and over 200 papers. In 2006 he established the Compassionate Mind Foundation as an international charity with the mission statement: “To promote wellbeing through the scientific understanding and application of compassion”.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:11 - Compassion in Practice
10:12 - Detoxifying for Emotional Healing
15:45 - Transformative Courageous Compassion
23:17 - Compassion's Role in Understanding Cruelty
26:15 - Regulating Competition for a Compassionate World
33:35 - Mindful Evolution in Helping Professions
43:39 - Building Resilience after Failure
47:46 - Evolutionary Blueprint for Mental Well-being
01:00:35 - Deep Dive into Compassion
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Interview Links:
- www.compassionatemind.co.uk
- Compassion Focused Therapy: Clinical Practice and Application: amzn.to/3ReGXAR
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3 Books Professor Gilbert Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:
- The Discovery Of The Unconscious - Henri Ellenberger: amzn.to/3uzAWVF
- Archetype: A Natural History of the Self - Anthony Stevens: amzn.to/3PeTL8F
- Civilized to Death - Chris Ryan: amzn.to/3yuzOnE

[@MovementMagic]

Wonderful talk. Thank you for facilitating this.

[@carolmcbrideonline]

Ignore the dark side?~!~~ can't believe he suggested this.

[@bryanwalkerCT7729]

The foundation of MH treatment ought to be diet. #BeingSaneInInsanePlaces

[@Heru_Iluvatar]

One of the foundations

[@bryanwalkerCT7729]

@@Heru_Iluvatar Have you seen A letter from generation RX? Canadian documentary about big Pharmacy

[@Heru_Iluvatar]

@@bryanwalkerCT7729 Letters From Generation Rx

[@bryanwalkerCT7729]

@@Heru_Iluvatar Sorry have 20yrs worth of MH research in my head. Should've read my notes. #BeingSaneInInsanePlaces is a 1973 paper that expose guesswork diagnosis. Nothing has changed. Thank you for your feedback.