CFT has become known as one of the ‘3rd wave’ of cognitive therapies, with a growing evidence base. CFT believes that emotional distress can be understood as a disharmony between three key systems within us.
The Drive system
The Threat system
The Soothe system
These systems can work very effectively when they are in balance; our drive systems enables us to work hard and achieve our goals, our threat system helps us to identify potential dangers and protect ourselves, and our soothe system enables us to be kind, caring and compassionate towards ourselves.
However, we can often go through experiences which impact on the development of these systems and how well they work. For example, we can often become so focused on achieving goals that we forget to be kind and patient towards ourselves. Similarly, if someone has gone through lots of difficult experiences where they have been harmed in some way then their threat system may become over-developed and lots of situations are seen as potentially dangerous and harmful, when they may not be.
The aim of CFT is to create a balance in the systems within us.
It is a relatively short treatment (8-10 sessions depending on need) and is goal oriented.
CFT can be used to treat the following difficulties:
