Grounding Psychotherapy in Self-Compassion

Presenting innovative ways to infuse self-compassion into psychotherapy, this book shares ideas and tools from leaders in the field. Clinicians from any orientation are guided to cultivate self-compassion themselves and incorporate it into interventions with clients. Rich case material throughout the chapters illustrates applications for frequently encountered clinical problems, from anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and emotional dysregulation, to addictions, eating disorders, chronic pain, and more. Core processes of self-compassion and mindfulness are reviewed, including cutting-edge findings from interpersonal neurobiology. The companion website features 18 downloadable audio tracks of guided practices from the book, together with reproducible scripts.  

Galia Tyano Ronen, MA, LCP, a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Israel, serves on the faculty of the Shiluv Center, affiliated with the University of Haifa. She has specialized in mind–body–spirit mindfulness-based psychotherapy and supervision since the 1990s. Ms. Tyano Ronen is an artist, a certified focusing-oriented therapist, a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and mentor trained by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, and a certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher. She is program developer and former director of the Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy Certificate Program offered by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. Ms. Tyano Ronen has pioneered MSC in Israel, leading worldwide workshops, and is responsible for the translation of the MSC program into Hebrew and for creating a bilingual MSC course for Arabs and Jews.

Shari Geller, PhD, a leader in the field of therapeutic presence, is founder and co-director of the Centre for MindBody Health in Toronto. A certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher who has been weaving psychology and mindfulness since the 1990s, Dr. Geller teaches internationally and has published several books, as well as book chapters and articles. She serves on the teaching faculty in Health Psychology at York University and is Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, in association with the Music and Health Research Collaboratory. Dr. Geller is a faculty member of the Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy Certificate Program offered by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, and is chair of the Membership and Networking Committee of the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy. She loves playing the handpan and drumming, and founded the Therapeutic Rhythm and Mindfulness program.

Foreword, Steven C. Hayes
Introduction: Where Do We Begin Our Journey?, Galia Tyano Ronen & Shari Geller
I. Self-Compassion as a Change Process
1. The Self-Compassion-Based Therapy Model, Christopher Germer
2. Compassion and Self-Compassion: A Biopsychosocial and Evolutionary Approach, Paul Gilbert
3. Expanding the Contemporary Meaning of “Self”: An Interpersonal Neurobiology Perspective on Inner-Compassion and Intraconnection, Elli Weisbaum, Shelby L. Alsup, & Daniel J. Siegel
4. Working with Challenges of Cross-Cultural Psychotherapy with Self-Compassion, Sydney Spears & Tracy Ochester
5. Why Does Self-Compassion Work?: Implications for Psychotherapy Practice, José Ramón, Yela Bernabé, & Antonio Crego Díaz
II. A Self-Compassion-Based Clinician: What Shapes and Informs Practice
6. Exploring the Interplay between Therapeutic Presence and Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy, Shari Geller
7. The Power of a Self-Compassionate Mindset, Shauna Shapiro, Shayda Roohparvar, & Jill Lillie
8. Cultivating the Practice of Self-Compassion, Galia Tyano Ronen
9. Self-Compassion: A Powerful Addition to Trauma Therapy, Susan M. Pollak
10. The Inner Process of Inquiry in Psychotherapy, Steven Hickman
III. Applications of Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy
11. Self-Compassion for Shame in Psychotherapy, Christopher Germer
12. Alcoholism, Addictions, and Self-Compassion, Alfie Wishart
13. Compassion and Self-Compassion for Depression, Paul Gilbert
14. Implementing Self-Compassion in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Christian Stiglmayr
15. Cultivating Self-Compassion in Response to Anxiety, Lizabeth Roemer, Gerson F. Borrero, Molly Sawdy, & Jessica R. LoPresti
16. The Process of Self-Compassion in Eating Disorder Recovery, Ann Saffi Biasetti
17. Couple and Relationship Distress: The Power of Self-Compassion Training in Therapy, Michelle Becker
18. Self-Compassion and Teens, Lisa Shelter & Lorraine M. Hobbs
19. Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Chronic Pain, Ronald D. Siegel
20. Integrating Self-Compassion into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Other Third-Wave Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies, Benjamin Weinstein
- Concluding Reflections: Integrating Self-Compassion into Psychotherapy, Shari Geller & Galia Tyano Ronen
- Appendix. Practices and Exercises
- Index
- List of Audio Files