Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) remains one of the most distressing and often misunderstood mental health conditions, frequently characterised not only by intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, but also by profound shame, self-criticism, and fear of judgment. While evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ERP, and ACT are highly effective, many clients continue to struggle with the emotional tone of their inner experience, which can limit engagement and therapeutic progress. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) offers a powerful, evidence-informed framework for addressing these difficulties by helping clients develop a kinder, more understanding relationship with themselves. This training is designed to support therapists in integrating CFT into their work with OCD, enhancing both clinical outcomes and the therapeutic relationship by directly targeting the underlying processes of shame, threat sensitivity, and self-criticism that so often maintain the disorder.
Through presentation, discussion, live demonstrations and experiential exercises, participants will explore:
- What Compassion Focused Therapy is and how it can benefit clients with OCD
- How to successfully integrate CFT concepts and interventions into your therapy
- How CFT can enhance other evidence-based approaches, including CBT, ERP and ACT
- How to employ the principles of CFT to strengthen the therapeutic relationship
- How to respond sensitively to common OCD-related fears and obstacles
- How to use CFT to help clients dealing with high levels of OCD related shame
Who this training is for:
- Therapists and other professionals who support people experiencing OCD
- Therapists who are curious about integrating CFT into their existing clinical practice
Key information:
Date: 26th June
Time: 1pm -5pm
Cost: £90
About your trainers:
Alex Habens is a Compassion Focused Therapist and BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Clinical Supervisor. He holds a Diploma in CFT and received training from experts in the field of compassion, including celebrated psychologist and founder of Compassion Focused Therapy, Professor Paul Gilbert OBE. Alex has lived experience of OCD and now supports others to understand and overcome obsessions and compulsions, blending a range of evidence-based approaches including CBT, CFT, and ACT. He has been an associate therapist at the Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy since 2023.
Jonny Say is the Co-Director of the ICOCD and is an OCD specialist who integrates Compassion Focused Therapy with ERP and ACT, to help clients recover from OCD. He has undertaken extensive training in CFT, including advanced clinical skills. He has also been supervised and worked as an associate for Dr Chris Irons, who is one of the foremost experts in CFT and author of multiple books including the Compassionate Mind Workbook. Jonny is also trained in other Compassion based approaches like Mindful Self-compassion, traditional Buddhist approaches to compassion training and compassion focused approaches to delivering ACT. Jonny has lived experience of OCD and draws from his own experience of using CFT to compliment ACT/ERP in his recovery.