CFT for shame and self criticism
Practical strategies for therapists
Shame and self-criticism can be some of the most challenging issues clients face, often leaving individuals stuck in cycles of self-attacking that perpetuate suffering. This workshop provides an exploration of using compassion-focused therapy (CFT) to support clients in addressing these patterns. Through practical strategies and tools, participants will learn how to bring compassionate understanding to both the self-critic and the criticised self, nurturing self-compassion. Designed to enrich your therapeutic toolkit, this workshop is ideal for those seeking to engage more effectively with clients grappling with profound shame and self-critical tendencies.
Background to the workshop
Shame and self-criticism are deeply rooted in our inner experiences, often tied to our evolutionary need to navigate social hierarchies and maintain connection. While these traits can serve adaptive functions, for many clients they become sources of intense distress, reinforcing cycles of self-attacking and self-blame. Compassion-focused therapy offers a unique lens for understanding and addressing these issues, viewing them as learnt patterns shaped by personal history, social context, and evolutionary mechanisms. Therapists often find themselves searching for nuanced and practical methods to work with these dynamics in a way that resonates with clients. This workshop addresses that need, equipping practitioners with the skills to help clients develop a compassionate relationship with their inner critic.
What you will gain from this workshop
- A deeper understanding of the origins of self-attacking behaviours, including an exploration of their roots in learning history and social rank theory.
- Insights into how foundational aspects of the CFT model can challenge and alleviate shame at its core.
- Skills to conduct functional analyses of self-attacking behaviours through CFT case formulation.
- Practical strategies to help clients shift from self-criticism to self-compassion, addressing both the self-critic and the criticised self.
- A range of techniques to support clients in replacing self-attacking patterns with compassionate ways of relating to their own suffering and vulnerabilities.
- Tools to help clients view their shame and self-attacking as understandable and valid responses to their experiences, paving the way for healing and growth.
About this workshop
This workshop will be delivered through a blend of teaching methods to ensure a rich and engaging learning experience. Participants will benefit from mini-lectures that introduce key concepts and provide theoretical grounding, alongside role-playing exercises that demonstrate and offer opportunities to practice specific techniques, while experiential exercises will allow participants to reflect on and deepen their own understanding of shame and self-criticism. Case discussions and interactive group work will round out the experience, ensuring that participants leave with a clear sense of how to integrate what they’ve learned into their clinical practice.
Who will benefit from this workshop?
This workshop is designed for therapists, psychologists, and mental health professionals who are familiar with the basics of compassion-focused therapy and are looking to refine their skills in working with clients struggling with shame and self-criticism. It is suitable for those who have a foundational understanding of CFT principles and are ready to dive deeper into specific applications of the model. This workshop is particularly relevant for clinicians working with clients who experience high levels of self-attacking, self-blame, or shame, and who are seeking practical, compassionate tools to support their clients’ journeys toward self-acceptance and healing.
A basic working knowledge of CFT is recommended. If you’re new to CFT, we offer an introduction to CFT to help you prepare.
Feedback from previous attendees
Highly engaging, informative, challenging, and fun! Russell is dynamic, passionate, and very knowledgeable – a fabulous facilitator.
Sami Karney, CBT Therapist (CYP)
This was one of the best trainings I’ve ever attended. Dr. Kolts did a fantastic job. It was great to learn from a true expert in this area.
Michael McClung, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Fantastic speaker and brilliant facilitation and organisation.
Petra Gwilliam, Clinical Psychologist
This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 4 CE credits for psychologists. To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.
APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 4 CE credits for psychologists.
Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 4 credit hours. Contextual Consulting Ltd. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7578.
Behaviour analysts: This workshop is available for 4 BACB Learning CEUs. Contextual Consulting is an approved BACB ACE Provider # OP-20-3415.
To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.
If you have disability and require adjustments or accommodation, please email us at admin@contextualconsulting.co.uk to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help you.
Booking cancellation
The registration fee will be refunded minus a administration charge if cancellations are received at least two weeks before the workshop date.
Cancellations within two weeks of the event date are charged the full registration fee, other than in exceptional circumstances that can be verified.
Event cancellation
In the event of cancellation of the course outside of our control we will not be held accountable for travel and/or accommodation costs incurred. However, the workshop fees will be refunded.
All workshops will be subject to minimum delegate numbers being met; in the event that a workshop should be cancelled delegates will be given no less than 2 months’ notice.
Replacing delegates
If a delegate is unable to attend and a replacement is nominated there may be a charge depending on the individual circumstances, this will be advised at the time. Please contact the us to request a replacement of delegates at least a week before the workshop date.
Contextual Consulting is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.
There was no commercial support for this event. None of the planners or presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
After this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the evolutionary, developmental, and social rank mechanisms that contribute to shame and self-critical thinking within the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) framework.
- Explain how core components of CFT, such as the three-system model and compassionate mind training, can be applied to reduce shame and self-attacking behaviours.
- Formulate CFT-informed case conceptualisations that integrate the roles of the self-critic and the criticised self within clients’ broader histories and learning contexts.
- Apply experiential and imagery-based CFT techniques to help clients cultivate compassion toward self-critical parts and foster emotional safety.
- Evaluate therapeutic progress by assessing shifts from self-criticism toward self-compassion and identifying indicators of increased psychological flexibility and emotional regulation.