STAGES OF CHANGE THEORY APPLIED TO SELF-CRITICAL THINKING AND FEAR OF COMPASSION: A BRIEF PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION

Author

Meghan Theresa Gill, The University of Montana

Year of Award

2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Clinical Psychology

Department or School/College

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Jennifer Waltz

Commitee Members

Kevin Dohr, Jennifer Robohm, Daisy Rooks, Gyda Swaney

Keywords

Adverse childhood experiences, Fear of compassion, Intervention, Self-compassion, Self-criticism, Stages of change

Abstract

Self-critical thinking has been identified as a trans-diagnostic feature of several forms of psychopathology, including depression, and anxiety (Gilbert & Proctor 2006). Recent research has found that developing self-compassion skills reduces symptoms of distress and correlates with beneficial outcomes (Barnard & Curry, 2011). Unfortunately, it also appears that some who experience high levels of self-criticism also experience a fear of compassion (i.e., a resistance to soothing and care when directed toward the self or when received from others). Fear of compassion has been identified as a barrier to engagement in, and efficacy of psychological treatment (Gilbert, McEwan, Matos, & Rivis, 2011). The current study tested a brief psycho-educational intervention that integrated a stage of change conceptualization to address self-criticism and fear of compassion.

Recommended Citation

Gill, Meghan Theresa, "STAGES OF CHANGE THEORY APPLIED TO SELF-CRITICAL THINKING AND FEAR OF COMPASSION: A BRIEF PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION" (2015). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 4611.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4611