Our Approach

At The Center for Compassion Focused Therapy, our approach is deeply rooted in evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhist philosophy. We believe that human beings naturally struggle with complex emotions, anxiety, and self-criticism due to the way our brains evolved.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

CFT was developed to help people who experience high levels of shame and self-criticism. It focuses on developing the "compassionate mind," which can help regulate difficult emotions and foster a sense of safety and connection.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

We also integrate ACT, a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy that helps individuals build psychological flexibility. By learning to accept what is out of our personal control, we can commit to actions that enrich our lives.

Compassion Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFACT)

CFACT represents the powerful integration of Compassion Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This approach blends the psychological flexibility and mindfulness of ACT with the warm, soothing, and evolutionary framework of CFT. It is designed to help you not only defuse from unhelpful thoughts and commit to your values, but to do so with a profound sense of self-compassion and inner warmth.

Trauma-Focused Therapy

Our trauma-informed approach recognizes the profound impact that past experiences have on the nervous system. When we experience trauma, our brain and nervous system adapt to protect us. While these adaptations are brilliant survival mechanisms, they can leave us feeling stuck in states of high anxiety, emotional numbness, shame, or self-criticism long after the danger has passed.

We utilize specialized, evidence-based techniques to help you safely process traumatic memories, reduce symptoms of PTSD, and cultivate a sense of safety within your own body. By integrating CFT and ACT with cutting-edge trauma interventions, we prioritize establishing a deep sense of safety first. We then help you train your mind to access its evolved capacity for care and soothing, counteracting the deep shame and self-blame that often accompany trauma.

Moving at your pace, we gently approach traumatic memories, allowing your mind and body to process and integrate them safely. Healing is a courageous journey, and we provide a secure, compassionate space for you to reclaim your life.