Abstract
Purpose: This study examines pre and post outcome measures following a course of Compassionate Mind Training (CMT). Participants were students enrolled on a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBP). The aim of the research was to explore whether the training would increase self-compassion, compassion for others and dispositional empathy.
Method: Twenty-one participants who had enrolled on the CBP programme took part in the study. Data were collected using the Self-Compassion Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Compassion for Others Scale.
Findings: Results reveal an overall statistically significant increase in self-compassion scores and statistically significant reduction in self-critical judgement scores post training. There was no statistically significant difference post training on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index or the Compassion for Others Scale.
Research limitations/implications: CMT training may help students develop healthy coping strategies, which they can use to balance their affect regulation systems when faced with organisational, placement, client, academic and personal demands. Further research using a larger sample size is needed to examine whether cultivating compassion whilst on training can help students build resilience and provide a barrier against empathic distress fatigue, compassion fatigue, and burnout.
Practical Implications: Incorporating CMT into psychotherapy training may bring changes in student levels of self-compassion and self-critical judgment.
Originality/value of the paper: This inaugural study examines whether incorporating CMT into a CBP programme impacts on students levels of compassion, dispositional empathy and selfcritical judgement. The findings from this preliminary study suggest the potential benefits of training students in compassion focused practices.