Why Compassion-Focused Therapy?
Skin conditions such as dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis affect around 54 per cent of the UK population over the course of a year, and commonly lead to emotional reactions such as anxiety, depression, and anger [1]. These negative emotions can make skin problems worse, and lead to a vicious cycle which can affect people’s body image and self-esteem.
The role of emotions in skin problems is different for each individual. For some people, skin problems are directly linked to emotional difficulties, whereas in others, stress acts as a trigger, or arises from the process of trying to adjust to the condition. [2][3] Modern approaches to psychological therapy have harnessed the power of mind training techniques for treating skin problems, which have been practiced in eastern cultures for thousands of years.
One such psychological approach, called Compassion-Focused Therapy, has been designed to help people who suffer from high levels of shame and self-criticism. One part of this approach is called mindfulness training, which involves learning to focus our attention on the breath, with an accepting and non-judgmental attitude, which can lead to feelings of stillness and slowing down.
Psychological treatments using mindfulness and compassion may be helpful for people with skin conditions because they allow them to focus their minds and learn to accept themselves, making it more likely that they will detect early signs of stress or skin flare-ups. This has the potential to help people to respond differently, by understanding trigger factors and helping them to tolerate difficult sensations or emotions.
Studies of mindfulness and compassion-focused psychological treatments have been shown to improve the speed of skin healing and quality of life in psoriasis patients, and lower shame and skin complaints in chronic acne sufferers.[4][5][6]
[1] Schofield, Grindlay, & Williams (2009)
[2] Fried (2013)
[3] Thompson (2009)
[4] Kabat-Zinn et al. (1998)
[5] Kelly, Zuroff, and Shapira (2009)
[6] Muftin (2012)
