Compassionate Mind Training (CMT)
Using the science that underpins Compassionate Focused
Therapy (CFT), this training aims to teach you how to identify and understand
your ways of thinking and feeling so that you can work with these thoughts and
feelings in a supportive and constructive way.
We
all have tricky brains! Sometimes this means that we get into unhelpful loops
in the brain, going over and over scenarios (past or future) in a way that
isn’t helpful and causes us to suffer.
It’s not your fault that this happens, it’s just the way the human brain
has evolved. In this course, you can
learn about how and why this happens, and start to learn how to manage this.
Format of the training
·
Each session will have an education and
practical component. You will be
learning theory and also learning by doing practices using breathing, mindfulness
and imagery
·
There will be time for small and large group
discussions.
·
The emphasis will be on developing new skills
within a supportive and safe environment.
·
While this is not therapy, we aim to provide a
welcoming environment to learn about our tricky brains, and learn new
techniques to deal with them.
What is involved in the training?
·
The course consists of 8 weekly classes.
·
Each class lasts 2.5 hours.
·
Katherine Venier (see below) will
facilitate the training sessions on Zoom.
·
Home exercises will be provided at the end of
every session. While they are not compulsory to do, you are strongly encouraged
to do them.
What the research tells us about CMT
Research conducted by Irons & Heriot-Maitland (2020) into this 8 week course demonstrated the following outcomes for participants.
Increases in compassion, self-reassurance, well-being, positive emotions, and social comparison.
Decreases in self-criticism, attachment anxiety, distress, avoidance, and anxiety.
These outcomes were confirmed again at a 3 month follow up. In fact there
were further improvements in scores 3 months later!
An earlier study in 2017 by Matos et al demonstrated that a
combination of Compassionate Mind Training practices reduced depression,
self-criticism and anxiety.
Materials
Prior
to starting we will send you a work book in PDF format that you can print and
use to work through the exercises as we progress through the material over the
8 weeks. Using your workbook is not
essential to the work, but it’s just a nice thing to have and will help you
remember what you learned after the course is completed.
At
the end of each week’s training Katherine will send you notes of the content of
the discussion and the powerpoint slide handouts. She’ll also send you audio
recordings of any breathing or imagery work done in the class so you can practice
during the week, should you wish to do so.
Where and When?
The course meets on Tuesday evenings from 6.00 to 8.30. This is an online course that takes place over Zoom. We have courses running throughout the
year. Get in touch with us to find out
when the next one starts. Course dates
are usually: Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, May-Jun, Sep-Oct.
The course meets on Tuesday evenings from 6.00 to 8.30. This is an online course that takes place over Zoom. We have courses running throughout the year. Get in touch with us to find out when the next one starts. Course dates are usually: Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, May-Jun, Sep-Oct.
Registration
The course fee is €400, payable in advance. You will receive an invoice once you have confirmed your wish to participate in the course. We will ask you to complete a brief survey before and after the course.
If you’d like to participate please let us know as soon as possible at katherine@iccft.com.
Meet Katherine Venier
Preferred pronouns: she / her
Katherine has a Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling from City University (London) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wits University (Johannesburg). She also holds an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Pretoria). She has lived, worked, and studied in London, Johannesburg and Dublin, where she has lived for 14 years with her husband and 2 dogs.
Katherine has completed training in Compassionate Mind Training with Dr. Chris Irons and Dr. Charlie Heriot-Maitland. Katherine has chosen to specialise in Compassion Focused Coaching in order to use this approach to help clients navigate their way through the complexities of modern life with understanding and confidence.
To learn more about Compassionate Mind Training, contact Katherine at 087 737-5912 or email her at katherine@iccft.com.
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