Compassion-Focused Therapy and People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Renewed Focus

Abstract

Compassion-Focused Therapy is an integrative therapeutic model with a wealth of evidence behind its efficacy. Its accessibility leads it to be a helpful therapeutic modality for the intellectual disability population. Its ability to aid the understanding of the person, us as clinicians, and the wider context around us give a depth of understanding not prioritised across all therapeutic models. This article explores Compassion-Focused Therapy in the context of working alongside people with intellectual disabilities. It focuses on how understanding archetypal and social mentality processes can aid understanding in people with intellectual disabilities as well as exploring some of the clinical implications and practical applications. It ends with a call to consider more readily, the use of Compassion-Focused Therapy in people with intellectual disabilities.