Event

AACBT National Workshop – Brisbane: An introduction to compassion-focused therapy

This event has passed.
24 Oct 2018
09:00 am
- 05:00 pm
Chislehurst Room @ The Women’s College (UQ)
College Rd, St Lucia QLD 4067, Australia
  • James Bennett-Levy
  • Tobyn Bell
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AACBT Workshop Series Flyer

“An introduction to compassion-focused therapy”

A workshop with Professor James Bennett-Levy & Tobyn Bell

THE VENUE HAS BEEN UPDATED: Chislehurst Room @ The Women’s College, University of Queensland

Bennett Levy & Bell

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is an integrative psychotherapy model that focuses on the cultivation and application of compassion for both self and others. CFT integrates cognitive-behavioural therapy techniques with evolutionary, developmental and social psychology; affective neuroscience; and Buddhist psychology. The approach was originally developed for clients with high-levels of self-criticism and shame and has a growing evidence-base for a variety of clinical disorders and presentations. Practicing compassion has been shown to have powerful effects on physiological, psychological and social processes, specifically in the regulation of threat-focused emotional experiences and the development of a caring orientation to suffering.

This workshop will introduce the core principles and practices of CFT which include an evolutionary functional analysis of emotions, a formulation of threat-based experiences and protective behaviours, the use of compassionate imagery to stimulate soothing and affiliation, and the development of the ‘compassionate self’. Participants will be guided in experiential exercises with a focus on developing compassion for both themselves and their clients. The workshop will also provide participants with an opportunity to formulate and address self-criticism using CFT interventions.

Seats are very limited at this location, so be sure to book your seat now!

(For group bookings please contact AACBT direct on info@aacbt.org.au)

8:30am check-in on the day for a 9:00am start & we look forward to seeing you at this workshop, the day before we start the 39th National Conference!


This workshop is suitable for therapists from any theoretical background. The workshop will include interactive teaching, practical exercises, self-reflection and group discussions. No prior knowledge of CFT is required.

Further Details:

In this workshop participants will:

  • Learn what compassion is (and isn’t)
  • Be able to apply an evolutionary functional analysis to emotions
  • Be able to identify common fears, blocks and resistances to compassion
  • Have an experience of key CFT exercises to train the mind in compassion

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This event is 7 hours CPD, and tickets include lunch, and morning & afternoon tea.