Emotional Safeness Therapy - integration of ACT with CFT

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Stan Malicki

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Oct 16, 2018, 1:20:27 PM10/16/18

to ACBS Compassion SIG

Hi folks,

This post is not a commerical :)

I have a pleasure to present the first article on the conceptual integration (as distinct from assimilation) of ACT and CFT: Introducing Emotional Safeness Therapy for depression and personality problems.

Enjoy reading and share your feedback (and critique).

Highlights from the article:

The term Emotional Safeness (as distinct from emotional safety) is derived directly from the term “social safeness” proposed by Paul Gilbert and extends the qualities of “social safeness” to the client’s relation with oneself.
Emotional Safeness Therapy views this dimension of psychological functioning as crucial for mental health. While we can’t completely control the way other people treat us, we can always change the way we treat ourselves.
Emotional Safeness may be defined as a sense of acceptance, support, warmth, soothing and reassurance in the relationship with oneself. The sense of emotional safeness is fostered by self-nurturance, self-care, self-reassurance and self-compassion. It is thought to be undermined by self-coercion and self-criticism.
Emotional Safeness Therapy views (1) psychological flexibility and (2) emotional safeness as two psychological pillars of mental health. Each of them may play more or less important role in different types of mental health problems.
The specific goals for the four dimensions of psychological functioning are:

- AWARENESS in relation to own experience
- SAFENESS in relation to self
- CONNECTEDNESS in relation to others
- EMPOWERMENT in relation to own life

Many depressed clients would choose “having friends” or “being in love” as their values. But pursuing these values in a submissive or dependent way would only make things worse for them in the long run. So, while the traditional ACT therapist focuses on which direction the client moves (towards values or away from them), the EST therapist focuses also on the style of the client’s movements.

Kind regards,

Stan

______________________________
Stanislaw Malicki
licensed specialist in clinical psychology
ACBS peer-reviewed ACT trainer

Akershus University Hospital
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
1478 Lørenskog, Norway

Tlf: 02900 (from Norway - central board)
Tlf: +47 915 02900 (from abroad - central board)