Compassion Focused Therapy (Paul Gilbert)

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is a therapeutic method developed by British psychologist Paul Gilbert since the late 1990s. It is specifically designed for individuals with high levels of self-criticism, shame, and self-hatred—typical traits in survivors of early trauma and child abuse.

Neurobiological premise: Gilbert articulates three neural systems of emotional regulation—the threat system (fight-flight-freeze), the drive system (resource-seeking), and the affiliation system (calm, connection, compassion). In trauma survivors, the first two are overactive, and the third is hypoactive. Self-criticism is a manifestation of a dormant affiliation-compassion system.

Compassion Focused vs. self-esteem: Gilbert distinguishes self-compassion from self-esteem. Self-esteem depends on external achievements and favorable comparisons ('I'm good because I'm better than X'). Self-compassion is unconditional—treating oneself with the same warmth as a dear friend in a moment of difficulty. Self-compassion is more stable and protective in the face of adversity.

Therapeutic work: CFT includes psychoeducation on the three neural systems, specific practices for cultivating self-compassion (visualizations, compassionate writing, compassionate body posture, compassionate voice), and working with the 'inner critical voice' to identify it and give it a place without obeying it.

Importance for Constelando: Many clients with severe transgenerational trauma arrive with brutal self-criticism—a legacy of the clan, internalized. CFT offers a specific tool to begin deactivating the critical voice and build a compassionate relationship with themselves before or parallel to systemic work.