Developing a Compassionate Internal Supervisor: Compassion‐Focused Therapy for Trainee Therapists

Abstract

Compassion-focused therapy, and related compassionate-mind imagery exercises, can be adapted specifically to develop compassion in trainee psychotherapists. Creating, and engaging with, an 'ideal compassionate supervisor' in an imaginal form can support psychotherapy trainees in their clinical practice and development, their supervision and their personal lives. The cultivation of therapist self-compassion can reduce unhelpful cognitive processes such as worry, rumination and self-criticism whilst increasing self-reflection, attentional flexibility and approach behaviour. Identifying, and working with, blocks to compassion is important when cultivating clinician self-compassion Therapist self-practice of compassion-focused exercises can provide important insights into the nature of compassion and its cultivation in clients.