Mastering Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Now: A Process Based and Trauma Informed Approach to Practicing Compassion in Psychotherapy
Dates and Location of this IN-PERSON 2-Day Workshop:
IN-PERSON at the Sheraton, New Orleans
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
CE credits available: 13
Workshop Leaders:
Dennis Tirch, Ph.D.
Laura Silberstein-Tirch, PsyD
Lauren Todd, Ph.D.
Workshop Description:
This workshop presents a novel approach to Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) that integrates process-based and trauma-informed perspectives, drawing upon contextual behavioral science, affective neuroscience, evolution science, and the science of attachment. Grounded in CFT, ACT and Process Based Therapy (PBT), the workshop provides an integrative and ACT-consistent framework for working with psychological suffering in its multifarious forms.
The model presented involves a robust and coherent case formulation strategy that drives the deployment of evidence-based processes and procedures. This formulation is a foundation for bespoke interventions, that meet the client where they are, working with specific psychotherapy processes to help our clients liberate themselves from habitual patterns of suffering.
Participants will explore the core concepts and processes of CFT, including the cultivation of courage, safeness, and psychological flexibility. We will learn how to effectively use the therapeutic relationship, guided discovery, and specific compassion practices to help clients work courageously with life challenges and develop compassionate strengths.
Through group work and experiential exercises, participants will gain hands-on experience with compassion-focused interventions for various problems, including chronic shame and self-criticism. The innovative model presented combines the best of CFT, ACT, PBT and other evidence-based therapies, grounded in recent advances in psychological research and evolutionary contemplative psychology. By successfully integrating scientific rigor, interpersonal authenticity, and experiential practices, participants will learn to cultivate "compassionate flexibility" for both themselves and their clients.
The workshop emphasizes experiential learning, personal practice, and self-reflection, ensuring that participants experience the methods in a deeply embodied way. Participants will have opportunities to engage in advanced mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance-based practices throughout the course and in their daily practice.
This workshop is suitable for clinicians of all levels, particularly ACT and other behavior therapy practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding and application of CFT foundations. Whether you're new to CFT or ACT or a seasoned practitioner, this workshop offers valuable insights, techniques, and a process-based approach to organizing your work with clients and supporting compassionate flexibility.
About the Workshop Leaders:
- Dennis Tirch, Ph.D.
Dr. Dennis Tirch is the Founding Director of The Center for CFT in New York; Chairman of The Compassionate Mind Foundation, USA; Past-President and Fellow of ACBS, and an Associate Clinical Professor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Dr Tirch is the author of seven books, and numerous chapters and peer reviewed articles on mindfulness, acceptance and compassion in psychology. Dr Tirch regularly conducts Compassion Focused ACT (CF-ACT) and CFT trainings & workshops globally. He is a Dharma Holder and lay teacher of Zen Buddhism; a Diplomate, Fellow & Certified Consultant for The Academy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and a Founding Fellow and Past President of both the NYC-CBT association & NYC-ACBS. Dr. Tirch serves as a mindfulness, wellness and performance coach to leading figures in business, science and the arts. Dr. Tirch regularly presents workshops and trainings globally, in person and via video-conference. His work has been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other media outlets.
- Laura Silberstein-Tirch, PsyD
Dr. Laura Silberstein is the Director of The Center for CFT in New York and board member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, USA. She has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr Silberstein-Tirch is the co-author of four books, including How to Be Nice To Yourself. Dr Silberstein-Tirch regularly conducts trainings and workshops on Compassion Focused ACT and CFT internationally. She is a Past President of NYC-ACBS & Compassion Focused SIG of ACBS. Dr. Silberstein-Tirch is a founding member and Past President of the Women of ACBS SIG.
- Lauren Todd, Ph.D.
Dr. Lauren Todd is a Senior Psychologist at the Center for CFT, the Director of Compassion Psychology for the Public, and the Director of Child & Adolescent Services. Dr. Todd conducts evidence-based psychotherapy, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy, and works with individuals across the lifespan (i.e., children ages 8+, teens, adults, and parents). Her clinical career began while volunteering as a crisis counselor during her undergraduate years at Cornell University, which eventually led her to pursue her M.S. in Nutrition Communications from Tufts University, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has worked in a variety of inpatient setting, including McLean Hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center; and outpatient settings, such as the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, FDU Center for Psychological Serv ices, and the North Jersey Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at ANDRUS, where she provided trauma-informed care to adults, adolescents, and children. She also works as a supervisor to doctoral students at Fairleigh Dickinson University and ANDRUS. Dr. Todd has an extensive research background, having managed research projects at Cornell University, the University of Oklahoma, and Fairleigh Dickinson University that examined contextual and environmental factors that influence mental and physical health behaviors, particularly among at-risk individuals.
Following this workshop participants will be able to:
- Understand and describe the core concepts and processes of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), including the cultivation of courage, safeness, and psychological flexibility.
- Effectively integrate process-based and trauma-informed perspectives into CFT practice.
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of the scientific foundations informing CFT, including contextual behavioral science, affective neuroscience, evolution science, and the science of attachment.
- Apply compassion-focused skills in using the therapeutic relationship, guided discovery, and specific compassion practices to help clients work courageously with life challenges and develop compassionate strengths.
- Implement a trauma-sensitive approach to CFT, acknowledging the widespread prevalence of trauma and the importance of clinicians extending compassion and care to themselves.
- Deploy compassion-focused interventions for various problems, including chronic shame and self-criticism, through group work and experiential exercises.
- Integrate CFT with other evidence-based methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
- Facilitate and lead CFT imagery and meditative exercises.
- Train skills in cultivating "compassionate flexibility" for both oneself and clients by successfully integrating scientific rigor, interpersonal authenticity, and experiential practices.
- Apply a process-based approach to organizing work with clients and supporting compassionate flexibility.
Target audience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Clinical
Components: Conceptual analysis, Literature review, Experiential exercises, Didactic presentation, Case presentation, Role play
Topic Areas: Clinical, Functional contextual neuroscience
Package Includes: A general certificate of attendance
CEs Available (13 hours): CEs for Psychologists