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 seeking to enhance their clinical skills in treating shame, self-criticism, trauma, rigid personality structures, and related psychological disorders. The program covers evidence-based approaches and practical strategies for working with clients across a range of diagnoses, including eating disorders, depression, and mood disorders.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychotherapists
    • Marriage and Family Therapists
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Mental Health Clinicians and Therapists
    • Professionals treating eating disorders, depression, mood disorders, and other psychological disorders

  • Experience Level

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

    • Beginner: Participants new to CFT or with limited experience treating shame and self-criticism will gain foundational knowledge of CFT’s evolutionary model, affect regulation systems, and basic experiential practices.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience using CFT or related evidence-based therapies will deepen their understanding of embodiment, mindful attention, and the application of the Fears of Compassion scale in assessment and treatment planning.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in CFT or complex case conceptualization will refine their skills in integrating multiple self frameworks, advanced compassion-based interventions, and de-shaming/de-pathologizing approaches for diverse clinical presentations.

  • Practice Setting

    Clinicians deliver CFT-informed, evidence-based care in safe, confidential, and trauma-responsive behavioral health environments that prioritize compassion-based interventions. Work typically occurs within interdisciplinary teams with supervision and outcome monitoring, providing individual and group treatment across varying levels of care.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Outpatient private and group practices
    • Community mental health clinics
    • Hospital-based psychiatry/behavioral health units
    • Integrated primary care and medical clinics
    • University/college counseling centers
    • Eating disorder IOP/PHP and residential programs
    • Trauma treatment programs (including VA/military)
    • Telehealth/virtual clinics
Presented By

Yotam Heineberg, PsyD

Dr. Yotam Heineberg 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), where he develops various compassion programs to support personal and collective resilience, as well as compassion for self and others. He also designs and delivers compassion-based burnout reduction programs that support nurses, clinicians, leaders and patients in large hospital settings.

Dr. Heineberg completed his doctorate at the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. consortium at Palo Alto University, and his post-doctoral training at Stanford University’s CCARE, during that time he trained with Professor Paul Gilbert, who developed the CFT model in the UK. He lives in San Francisco, runs a private practice and offers workshops nationally and internationally.


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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 Statements

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.