10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is presented by Yotam Heineberg, PsyD.

It is well-known that shame and self-criticism can be difficult problems to treat in a range of psychological problems and may even prevent people from seeking help. Compassion Focused Therapy was developed by Professor Paul Gilbert. CFT was specifically developed with and for individuals with these difficulties, in part by helping them develop a compassionate orientation toward themselves and others by elaborating on cognitive-behavioral strategies. CFT is an evolutionary and neuroscience-based approach to psychotherapy that articulates how the evolution of attachment and affiliative emotion regulates threat processing and the emergence of our self-identities. CFT integrates evidence-based therapies with the basic insight that our emotions serve an evolutionary function and that recognizing this can help de-shame and de-pathologize painful symptomatic experiences towards greater engagement in therapy. CFT has growing empirical evidence to support its efficacy in a broad range of complex cases, including trauma and rigid personality structures. The program covers the basic concepts of CFT with PowerPoint presentations and various experiential practices with the use of emotion-focused, cognitive-behavioral, and imagery practices. 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe perspectives from the evolutionary model that underpins CFT
  • 2 Describe the three types of affect regulation systems (threat, drive and soothing)
  • 3 Describe the importance of embodiment and mindful attention in working with bottom up processing such as body sensations and visual imagery
  • 4 Describe the Fears of Compassion scale framework as applied to assessment, psychoeducational, experiential and behavioral treatment goals
  • 5 Describe attuned sensitivity to the three directions of compassion (giving, receiving and practicing self-compassion) and the relationship with stress, depression, and anxiety
  • 6 Describe perspective from the multiple self framework how to orient clients towards the cultivation of their compassionate self
  • 7 Describe mindfulness and compassion based contemplative practices
  • 8 Describe the distinction between shame- and threat-based self attacking cognitions and soothing-based compassionate thinking

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals who wish to enhance their clinical skills in treating shame, self-criticism, trauma, rigid personality structures, and related psychological disorders. The program provides evidence-based approaches and practical strategies for working with clients across a range of diagnoses, making it suitable for clinicians specializing in psychotherapy and those treating complex psychological issues.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychotherapist
    • Marriage and Family Therapist
    • Mental Health Clinician or Therapist
    • Clinical Psychologist
    • Professional treating eating disorders, depression, mood disorders, and other psychological disorders

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for entry-level professionals.

    • Participants are new to CFT concepts and practices, may have limited experience addressing shame and self-criticism in clinical work, and are interested in learning evidence-based, compassion-oriented approaches to support clients.
    • Participants will gain an understanding of the evolutionary model underpinning CFT, the three affect regulation systems (threat, drive, soothing), and the application of basic CFT techniques such as mindful attention, imagery, and compassion-based practices.

  • Practice Setting

    Mental health professionals who participate in this training typically work in clinical environments where they provide assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, or groups experiencing a range of psychological difficulties. These settings are often designed to be private, supportive, and confidential, fostering a safe space for clients to explore sensitive issues such as shame, self-criticism, trauma, and complex personality structures. Practitioners may work in outpatient clinics, private practices, community mental health centers, hospitals, or specialized treatment programs for eating disorders, depression, and mood disorders. The environment emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and evidence-based interventions, with access to resources for ongoing professional development and supervision.

    • Outpatient mental health clinics
    • Private psychotherapy practices
    • Community counseling centers
    • Hospital-based psychiatric units
    • University counseling centers
    • Specialized treatment programs for eating disorders or trauma
    • Group therapy settings
    • Telehealth/online therapy platforms

Presented By

Yotam Heineberg, PsyD, Faculty at Palo Alto University

Yotam Heineberg, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and a clinical faculty member at Palo Alto university’s Gronowski Center, where he offers supervision, clinical and didactic psychotherapy training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and other compassion focused approaches to healing and growth. Dr. Heineberg is also a Research Fellow at Stanford University with the Center for Compassion and Altruism, Research and Education (CCARE).

View More Programs from this Presenter
Yotam Heineberg, PsyD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Basic Concepts
    Evidence-based therapies
    De-shame cases
    De-pathologize cases
    Empirical evidence

  • Practices
    Emotion Focused
    Cognitive Behavioral
    Imagery

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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.