‘A definite feel-it moment’: Embodiment, externalization and emotion during chair-work in compassion-focused therapy
Journal article
Authors | Bell, Tobyn, Montague, Jane, Elander, James and Gilbert, Paul |
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Abstract | Chair-work is an experiential method used within compassion-focused therapy (CFT) to apply compassion to various aspects of the self. This is the first study of CFT chair-work and is focused on clients’ lived experiences of a chair-work intervention for self-criticism. Twelve participants with depression were interviewed following the chair-work intervention and the resulting data was examined using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three superordinate themes were identified: ‘embodiment and enactment’, ‘externalizing the self in physical form’ and ‘emotional intensity’. The findings suggest the importance of accessing and expressing various emotions connected with self-criticism, whilst highlighting the potential for client distress and avoidance during the intervention. The role of embodying, enacting and physically situating aspects of the self in different chairs is also suggested to be an important mechanism of change in CFT chair-work. The findings are discussed in terms of clinical implications, emphasizing how core CFT concepts and practices are facilitated by the chair-work process. |
Keywords | Compassion-Focused Therapy, Chair-Work, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Depression, Self-Criticism, Compassion. |
Year | 2019 |
Journal | Counselling and Psychotherapy Research |
Publisher | Wiley |
ISSN | 14733145 |
17461405 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12248 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/624021 |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ | |
hdl:10545/624021 | |
Publication dates | 08 Jul 2019 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 19 Jul 2019, 13:08 |
Accepted | 14 Jun 2019 |
Rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States |
Contributors | University of Derby |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
File |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/92q81/-a-definite-feel-it-moment-embodiment-externalization-and-emotion-during-chair-work-in-compassion-focused-therapy
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