Using Structured Compassion Focused Formulations Towards Change in Couples and Organisations

Abstract

The current article describes the application of the Compassion Focussed (CF) formulation to the interaction between individuals and their social context. The standard CF formulation [1] would see the person’s fears as inadvertently reinforced by their attempts to cope with the underlying issue. However, sometimes such attempts to cope can also reinforce the fears of another person or party. Interpersonal CF formulations could provide a compassionate, non-blaming way of enlightening people in their interactions to remove blame and focus intervention plans on what is helpful for each party, in the context of their difficulties. This article describes two examples of intersubjective Compassion Focussed formulation. The first application is to two individuals in a relationship. The second application is in understanding the hermeneutics between an individual and an organisation or system.