Therapies

Compassion-focused Therapy

We tend to easily feel compassion when a close friend is struggling. What would it be like to receive the same caring attention from yourself when you need it most?

Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to improve your emotional wellbeing.

How it works

Self-compassion involves the capacity to comfort and soothe ourselves, and to motivate ourselves with encouragement, when we suffer, ‘fail’, or feel inadequate.

We begin CFT by understanding how our minds and bodies work, and connecting with your innate compassion for others.

We will introduce you to mindfulness techniques, imagery, and breathing exercises to help you respond to yourself with warmth and care when you most need it.

Self-compassion also helps to grow and sustain our compassion for others.

What it’s like

Whilst all the therapies we offer have the potential to help you cultivate self-compassion, CFT does this in a more intentional way.

Self-compassion involves recognising that suffering and feeling inadequate is part of the shared human experience – something that we all go through rather than something that happens to either “you” or “I” alone.

You may like to read some feedback and encouragements by those who received therapy with us.

Other therapies

Read more about the different types of therapy we offer:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Counselling

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing

Narrative Exposure Therapy

Interpersonal Therapy

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia

Couples Therapy

Difficulties we treat

If you’re going through a hard time, we want you to know that you’re not alone and good support is now available. We provide talking therapies for all kinds of common mental health difficulties.

Self-help resources

Be sure to check out our useful section of self-help resources for wellbeing.

Employment advice

Alongside therapy our Employment Team can help you find employment or training, and support you with workplace adjustments or disputes.

Make the first step

We know the courage it takes to ask for help, and we hope you’ll consider therapy with us. Read more about what to expect if you refer.

Talking Change is for everyone aged sixteen or over, who live in Portsmouth and are registered with a GP in the city.

You can self-refer by calling us on 0300 123 3934 or by completing this secure form online.

Urgent help

Talking Change is not an emergency mental health service for people in crisis. Support is available from specialist services if urgent help is needed.