At Alsana, we are committed to providing compassionate care to our clients. One of the key therapeutic approaches we use is Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). This blog will help readers understand Compassion-Focused Therapy, its principles, techniques, and how Alsana integrates it into our programs to support those with eating disorders.
What is CFT?
Let’s start by defining Compassion; Compassion is a sensitivity to suffering in self and others, with a commitment to try to alleviate or prevent it. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) differs from traditional therapy approaches that focus primarily on reducing negative emotions, instead also focusing on increasing positive emotions and considering the importance of both top down and bottom skill development. CFT emphasizes that the positive emotion system plays a foundational role in regulating the threat system, reducing distress and enhancing psychological well-being.
CFT is an evidence-based, transdiagnostic, and a measurable therapeutic approach and was extensively researched by Alsana’s clinical leaders before being selected as an overarching model for our therapeutic dimension in the Adaptive Care Model®. CFT aligns with Alsana’s culture of compassionate care in prioritizing de-shaming and de-blaming our client’s experience as well as meeting them where they are at in their recovery journey.
The Principles of CFT
CFT is built on a variety of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Socratic dialogue, psycho-education, and a variety of interventions including behavioral experiments, exposures, chair work, mindfulness, emotional tolerance building, conflict management, and building safety strategies. Oftentimes, clients understand their thoughts and feelings around their eating disorder. However, they get stuck in the same cycle of shame and blame, which is where CFT can be a great intervention for the healing process.
Techniques Used in CFT for Treating Eating Disorders
Psychoeducation
Compassion-Focused Therapy is utilized in a variety of ways to support our clients through the ED treatment process. Clients are introduced to the concept of ‘tricky brains’ and the three circles of emotion, which help them understand the role of shame and harsh self-criticism in maintaining ED behaviors. Compassion across the three flows is then introduced to explore fears, blocks, and resistances that impede on their respective development.
Experiential Exercises
Techniques like soothing rhythm breathing, the ideal compassionate other, and other exercises help build the ‘soothe-affiliative system’ and balance the threat system, reducing reliance on ED behaviors.
Cognitive Practices
Practices such as pattern switching and mind mapping increase awareness, accountability, and compassion towards emotional experiences, encouraging clients to make different choices.
How Alsana Uses CFT
Alsana has established a shared framework and language across all departments (clinical, nursing, nutrition, medical) focusing on CFT concepts. This helps clients understand how eating disorders and related behaviors are maintained within our emotional systems and supports the goal of de-shaming and de-blaming without absolving responsibility.
Additionally, each Alsana program has incorporated module-based groups on CFT providing structured and uniform psychoeducation and skill exposure that clients can apply to other aspects of their recovery.
Our national leaders and educators are experienced eating disorder specialists. Clinicians receive weekly individual and group supervision along with company-wide weekly clinical trainings that include CFT techniques and interventions. Alsana also invests in their continuous professional development and regularly reviews client outcomes to ensure the effectiveness of our programs.
Compassion-Focused Therapy is a vital part of Alsana’s approach to treating eating disorders. By integrating CFT into our programs, we provide clients with the tools and understanding needed to break free from cycles of shame and blame, fostering a compassionate and supportive recovery journey.
