The Compassionate Mind Workbook: A step-by-step guide to developing your compassionate self

by Chris Irons, Elaine Beaumont

There is good and increasing evidence that cultivating compassion for one's self and others can have a profound impact on our physiological, psychological and social processes. In contrast, concerns with inferiority, shame and self-criticism can have very negative impacts on these processes and are associated with poorer physical and mental health.

The Compassionate Mind Workbook is for anyone who is interested in how compassion - in the form of ideas and practices derived from Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and other approaches - may help us to engage with, understand and ultimately, try to alleviate suffering.

CFT utilises both Buddhist practices and Western psychological science. It draws on neuroscience, insights into emotion regulation and identity formation, interpersonal psychology and a range of psychotherapeutic models. CFT-based interventions can help people with a range of mental health problems develop compassion for themselves, be open to the compassion of others and develop compassion for others.

This workbook is a step-by-step guide to CFT, in which the chapters build your understanding of yourself, the skills that give rise to a compassionate mind, and ways to work with whatever difficulties you're struggling with in life. The exercises, prompts and case stories in this book provide an understandable and practical way to develop compassion.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Health, Personal Development

400 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2018

Reviews

[Mrs A S Pickering · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a workbook, I use this along with face to face counseling sessions. It helped me get the most out of each session and gave me insight into my thought processes for relationships

[Theresa T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical guide

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only book that has ever helped stop my mind being so truly horrid to myself. Written clearly and simplistically, in a friendly tone, that helps one absorb the message being conveyed.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I like this book, because there are many good explanations in it, it is not my favourite for working on compassion, because I’d have liked more exercises and some shorter explanations. That being said, you really get a lot for your money with this one. It is definitely helpful and I’d always recommend working on compassion with a therapist. Using this title then could be really good. 5 stars.