Compassion Focused Therapy for Hoarding Disorder

Transcription

1 Compassion Focused Therapy for Hoarding Disorder Chia-Ying Chou, Ph.D. Presentation for ICHC 2018 in Berkeley, CA

2 Compassion Focused Therapy Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) was founded by Dr. Paul Gilbert, University of Derby, U.K. CFT is a psychotherapy derived from research in developmental psychology, emotional neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and Buddhism. CFT is a rapidly growing evidence based treatment method for a range of psychological problems, including shame-based difficulties and self-criticism, anxiety, mood regulation problems, posttraumatic reactions

3 Agenda What is compassion? Why do we need compassion? How can compassion help with hoarding? Initial findings on CFT for hoarding Q & A

4 Let s arrive here and now

5 What is compassion? The sensitivity to suffering in oneself and others, with a willingness to try to alleviate or prevent it Wisdom awareness and empathy for suffering, and the right way to alleviate it Commitment the desire and sense of responsibility to help, not giving up or run away Strength emotional strength to endure difficulties Warmth when the above is done without warmth or friendliness, it may cause further suffering

6 Why do we need compassion? Experiential exercise 1: a compassionate look at my morning

7 Why do we need compassion? Our human brain is a product of evolution Old Brain Physical safety Survival needs Social and emotional desires We are motivated to achieve similar things as our pet animals! Sense of self Planning Ruminating Reasoning Imagining New Brain We do something that our pet animals might not do! What happens when the Old Brain hijacks the New Brain?

8 It s not your fault. It s your responsibility to make things right for you.

9 How can compassion help with hoarding? The three motivational systems Drive system Incentive and resource focused Soothing system Contentment and safeness Threat system Protection and safety seeking Compassion training empowers one through strengthening the soothing system and regaining balance.

10 How can compassion help with hoarding? Experiential exercise 2: De-clutter in the three different motivational systems

11 Participants: Initial findings on CFT for hoarding Individuals who completed a 16-session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group for hoarding in a large clinical trial at least 1 year ago, and still presented clinically significant hoarding symptoms (SI-R score > or = 42) at the time of screening for this follow-up study. Study design: Reviewing CBT (15 weeks) or CFT as a follow-up treatment (16 weeks) group assignment depending on availability at the time.

12 Initial findings on CFT for hoarding Retention rates: 19 enrolled in CFT 13 (68%) completed 19 enrolled in CBT-R 7 (37%) completed or ongoing SI-R scores 70 CFT group (N = 13) SI-R scores 70 CBT group (N = 7) Overall Difficulty discarding Acquisition Clutter 0 Overall Overall Difficulty discarding Acquisition Clutter Pre-treatment Post-treatment Pre-treatment Post-treatment

13 Initial findings on CFT for hoarding: participant feedback How is CFT better than CBT? The focus of CFT is on negative self-talk and on neutralizing it, rather than succeeding or failing on any tasks. This leads to a healthier (long term) attitude toward the clutter problem. CFT recognizes that saving or discarding is not a logical decision. Asking ourselves a list of logical questions, like we did in CBT, was not enough. The breathing and relaxation techniques that we practiced enabled me to remind myself of what my most compassionate, wise, strong, warm and committed self would do in any given situation of discomfort or distress. I feel a deeper emotional connection and kinship with the members in the CFT group. How is CFT worse than CBT? For some people, CFT can be uncomfortable, especially with its emphasis on self-examination. For me, CFT was worse because it was less specific, and less about goal setting. CFT is not worse than CBT however, CBT was better to come first, because it s more about the physical-ness of hoarding issues (i.e. clutter). Effects of CFT is less measurable and more internal. A lot of work can t be seen even though it s in the works. CFT lacks some of the useful tools of CBT (e.g., using timer, daily de-cluttering sessions, rules of acquiring)

14 Thank you, and for your information CFT-USA website address CFT for hoarding group coming up this summer

15 Thank you, and the most compassionate wishes for you!