12 Hours / 12 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Compassion Focused Therapy for Distressing Experiences In Psychosis is presented by Charlie Heriot-Maitland, PhD.

This program introduces the CFT model of compassion and describes how to apply this model in interventions for people with psychosis. Specifically, participants learn how to help their clients establish a bodily experience of safeness through:

  1.  The practice of soothing rhythm breathing, which activates the parasympathetic system
  2.  Learning to recognize what postures and activities ground and center the person
  3.  Using mindfulness and imagery exercises.


In this program, participants learn how to create external contexts (e.g., interpersonal and environmental) in which the safeness experience can flourish. Dr. Heriot-Maitland also discusses how to develop a ‘compassionate self,’ which is a part of them with the qualities required to explore and engage with their fears, voices, and dissociated parts; essentially, a self-identity that organizes the mind and provides a secure base (or grounding) from which to do the therapeutic work. He demonstrates how to use these compassionate qualities and skills to manage internal conflicts and to initiate supportive dialogue between voices and different emotional parts. This is achieved through techniques such as voice dialoguing/talking with voices, imagery, chair work, and letter writing.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe and critique the Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) model and its relevance for people with psychosis
  • 2 Describe the evidence base that underpins the CFT model
  • 3 Describe psychosis to establish safeness and connection
  • 4 Describe psycho-education about evolved brains, emotion systems, and multiple selves
  • 5 Describe CFT formulations with their clients (threat-based formulation / 3 circles formulation / function of voices)
  • 6 Describe how clients cultivate/deepen their compassionate self
  • 7 Describe how clients put their compassion self to work in daily life
  • 8 Describe techniques to facilitate compassionate relating to self, others, voices (eg. chair work and compassionate voice dialogue)
  • 9 Describe the CFT model to address difficulties within therapeutic relationships
  • 10 Describe processes to ensure personal practice improvement in the use of the CFT model for psychosis

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who work with individuals experiencing psychosis, with a focus on applying compassion-focused interventions. It is suitable for those specializing in psychology, social work, counseling, and related fields who support clients with psychosis in clinical and therapeutic contexts.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Clinical Therapists
    • Allied Mental Health Professionals

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of familiarity with Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) for psychosis.

    • Beginner: Participants new to CFT or psychosis interventions who seek foundational knowledge of the CFT model, its evidence base, and basic techniques such as soothing rhythm breathing and grounding exercises.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in CFT or psychosis treatment who wish to deepen their skills in applying CFT formulations, facilitating compassionate self-development, and integrating advanced techniques like chair work and compassionate voice dialogue.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in CFT and psychosis who aim to refine their practice, critically evaluate the model, and enhance their ability to address complex therapeutic dynamics and personal practice improvement.

  • Practice Setting

    They practice in clinical and community mental health environments that are multidisciplinary, recovery-oriented, and trauma- and compassion-focused, delivering individual and group interventions for people experiencing psychosis.

    Work centers on creating psychologically and interpersonally safe contexts using CFT methods such as soothing rhythm breathing, grounding, mindfulness and imagery, compassionate self-development, voice dialoguing, chair work, and letter writing.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Community mental health centers (outpatient)
    • Early psychosis intervention programs
    • Inpatient psychiatric units
    • Residential treatment programs
    • Integrated primary care/behavioral health clinics
    • Private practice clinics
    • Telehealth/virtual care services
    • Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and outreach teams
Presented By

Charlie Heriot-Maitland, PhD

Dr. Charlie Heriot-Maitland is a clinical psychologist, researcher and trainer (University of Glasgow; Balanced Minds). He is currently researching the social context of anomalous experiences and the application of CFT for people experiencing distress in relation to psychosis. He provides psychological therapies in NHS psychosis services, and in private practice. He also runs various compassion training workshops for practitioners and the general public.


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CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statement

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.