The Compassionate Mind Workbook (7/10/20)

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This week I am sharing a brilliant book called The Compassionate Mind Workbook. A step-by-step guide to developing your compassionate self. This is book is written by our very own Dr Elaine Beaumont, a Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Salford.  

  

The workbook is a step-by-step guide to Compassion Focused Therapy, in which the chapters build your understanding of yourself, the skills that give rise to a compassionate mind, and ways to work with whatever difficulties you're struggling with in life. The exercises (e.g. using imagery to cultivate compassion, creating a calm and peaceful place in the mind, compassionate letter writing, compassionate thinking, mindfulness, creating a compassionate team that can help the individual face fears and distress), prompts, audios and case stories in this book provide an understandable and practical way to develop compassion. This is potentially important because there is increasing evidence that suggests that cultivating compassion for one's self and others can have a profound impact on our physiological, psychological, and social processes. In contrast, concerns with inferiority, shame and self-criticism can have very negative impacts on these processes and are associated with poorer physical and mental health.    

  

Exercises and interventions in the book also encourage self-reflection and self-practice and aim to help people respond to self-critical judgement with self-compassion. We all have moments of suffering and distress but if we can learn to be kinder to ourselves and cultivate a compassionate mind then this can have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. This is important because there is increasing evidence that suggests that concerns regarding inferiority, not feeling good enough, shame and self-criticism can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health.   

  

The world could do certainly with more compassion and care right now and I will definitely be adding this to my reading list. Thanks Elaine!  

  

Elaine also has a new book for young people coming out in November which focuses on creative interventions from a variety of therapies, which may be of interest/use. It's currently #1 in the Hot New Releases category on Amazon!  


If you would like more information on Elaine's work, you can contact her on e.a.beaumont@salford.ac.uk.


Enjoy the rest of your week!

Comments

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