Kind minds: using the ‘compassionate kitbag’ in a compassion focused therapy group for adults with intellectual disabilities

Kind minds: using the ‘compassionate kitbag’ in a compassion focused therapy group for adults with intellectual disabilities Andy Busfield, Charlotte Peters, Karen McKenzie Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- This paper aims to describe and evaluate the impact of a compassion-focused therapy (CFT) group for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).People with ID are commonly subjected to stigmatising experiences that can contribute to feelings of shame. CFT targets shame and self-criticism by helping people to cultivate self-compassion. There is evidence to suggest that CFT can be meaningfully adapted for people with ID. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a mixed-methods design, aiming to gain a rich evaluation of the CFT group. Eight adults with ID were referred by their local community psychology team. An 11-week group protocol was based on materials from previous research. The protocol included the development of a “compassion box”, aiming to make CFT concepts more concrete and tangible. Questionnaires measuring psychological distress, self-compassion and negative social comparisons were completed pre- and post-group. Feedback from participants and carers were collated and facilitators’ observations were recorded.Questionnaire findings were mixed, and some participants found the measures difficult to understand. Participants’ qualitative feedback and facilitators’ observa...

Source: Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities - December 21, 2023 Category: Disability Authors: Andy Busfield Charlotte Peters Karen McKenzie Source Type: research