A professionally designed handout on compassion focused therapy (CFT) outlining human motivational systems vital for emotional regulation.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Grounded in evolutionary theory, this resource illuminates the three primary motivational systems in the human brain: threat, drive, and soothing. These systems reflect our ancestors' survival mechanisms and are integral to understanding emotions and behaviors. The model provides insight into how imbalances may lead to psychological distress and emphasizes the development of self-compassion through CFT.
This handout provides a foundational understanding of the motivational systems used in CFT to facilitate emotional regulation and resilience.
Recognize and manage threat responses.
Facilitate engagement with drive and soothing systems.
Address overactive threat systems and nurture soothing capabilities.
Develop self-compassion to balance motivational systems.
Use the handout as a psychoeducation resource with clients.
Explore clients' beliefs related to motivation and emotional responses.
Help clients understand the balance between threat, drive, and soothing systems.
Apply insights into therapeutic interventions focused on emotional regulation.
Encourage clients to consider how their own motivational systems operate.
Foster a compassionate mindset through ongoing practice.
Compassion focused therapy (CFT), pioneered by Paul Gilbert, integrates evolutionary psychology with therapeutic practice. It identifies three key motivational systems—threat, drive, and soothing—that have distinct feelings, motivations, and neurochemical associations central to emotional regulation.
Each system serves a unique purpose: the threat system for protection, the drive system for resource seeking, and the soothing system for social bonding. Imbalances, particularly an underdeveloped soothing system, often result from trauma or neglect and can lead to self-criticism. CFT encourages adaptive use of all systems to promote mental well-being.
