READING RECOMMENDATIONS
A Day on the Third Wave

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy: An Introduction
Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Professor Michaela Swales, PhD

An Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy
Dr Chris Irons, PhD

Explore how third wave approaches to psychotherapy can help you improve your wellbeing – includes practical exercises and information on the growing evidence base for these pioneering forms of therapy.
The first wave of cognitive therapy focused heavily on behaviourist approaches to change, such as classical conditioning (Pavlov), and operant conditioning (Skinner). The second wave came in the 1970s, with the arrival of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is based on the idea that thoughts lead to feelings, which lead to behaviours, and therefore the emphasis now switched to changing how we think. We are now in the era of ‘third wave’ psychotherapy. Interestingly, the focus of the third wave isn’t on changing thoughts or feelings themselves. Instead, these approaches aim to change our relationship to our thoughts and feelings, so we can enjoy greater wellbeing in day to day life. Integrating techniques from CBT with concepts from neuroscience, mindfulness, evolutionary theory, and the science of compassion, third wave approaches have the potential to make a valuable contribution to the work of any psychotherapist, counsellor, psychologist or coach. With practice, they can help us recognise how we become entangled in streams of worry, self-criticism and ruminative thinking, and break free from these patterns to improve our wellbeing and realise more of our potential. During this online conference, you’ll explore the rapidly developing evidence base for Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and learn how these pioneering approaches can offer an effective solution to many of the mental health problems we face today. The day will combine presentations with practical exercises, and will feature talks from three of the UK’s leading clinical psychologists. It is an introductory conference, and no prior experience or knowledge of any of the approaches is required.
Content
- Compassion Focused Therapy; how neuroscience, mindfulness, and evolutionary science have informed the development of CFT, why developing positive feelings associated with contentment, safeness and soothing can play a major role in managing distress and promoting wellbeing, and how compassion can be ‘put to work’ to alleviate suffering – Dr Chris Irons, PhD
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy; the three foundations upon which DBT rests – zen, behaviourism and dialectics (and how these integrate), what dialectics are, the vital role they play in the therapeutic process, and how DBT can be applied to treat a wide range of mental health problems – Professor Michaela Swales, PhD
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy; the science and theory that informs MBCT, why it is particularly helpful for treating recurrent depression and anxiety disorders, and how MBCT can be applied for greater self-acceptance; enabling you to face life’s difficulties with self-compassion instead of self criticism – Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi, PhD
You’ll learn how third wave approaches can help you improve your own wellbeing, but also how they can be applied to help others do the same.
Event Schedule:
- 10:00am – 12:00pm: Compassion Focused Therapy – Dr Chris Irons, PhD
- 12:00 – 1:00pm: Lunch break
- 1:00pm – 3:00pm: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy – Professor Michaela Swales, PhD
- 3:00pm – 3:30pm: Afternoon break
- 3:30pm – 5:00pm: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy – Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi
Lectures & Speakers
An Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy
What is compassion? How is it beneficial for people? And how can it be harnessed directly as part of therapy? In this talk, we’ll take a look at some of the key theories underneath and practices of CFT, and see how this can be a powerful way of working with distress and suffering.
This presentation will help you learn some of the key basics of CFT, and have an opportunity to try out a few CFT interventions and see how these may be useful. At the end of the workshop, you’ll have a better sense of what CFT is, how it can be helpful, and hopefully energise you to find out more about CFT in the future!

Dr Chris Irons, PhD
An Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy
Dr Chris Irons, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist, and Director at Balanced Minds, an independent psychology practice in London set up to bring compassion-focused approaches to individuals and organisations in London and the UK. In his clinical work, he uses Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT; Gilbert, 2009; Gilbert & Irons, 2005) in working with people suffering from a variety of mental health problems, but also in bringing these ideas to the general public. He is an internationally recognised trainer and supervisor of CFT, and the author of a number of CFT books, including: “The Compassionate Mind Workbook”, “CFT from the Inside Out” and “CFT for Difficult Emotions”.
Chris also works with the Compassionate Mind Foundation, a charitable organisation aiming to: “Promote wellbeing through the scientific understanding and application of compassion”.
Reading Recommendations:
Books and Articles:
- Irons, C. (2017) The Compassionate Mind Workbook: A step by step guide to developing your compassionate self. London: Robinson
- Kolts, R. L., Bell, T., Bennett-Levy, J., & Irons, C. (2018). Experiencing compassion-focused therapy from the inside out: A self-practice/self-reflection workbook for therapists. Guilford Publications.
- Gilbert, P. (2009) The Compassionate Mind. A New Approach to Life’s Challenges. London: Constable & Robinson.
- Gilbert, P. (2009) An introduction to compassion focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15, 199-208.
- Gilbert, P. (2010) Compassion Focused Therapy: Distinctive Features. London: Routledge.
- Gilbert, P. (ed.) (2010) Compassion Focused Therapy: Special Issue. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy. 3, 97-201
Videos
- The Science of Compassion – Dr Chris Irons
- Evolution & Compassion Focused Therapy – Professor Paul Gilbert
- Compassion Focused Therapy: An Introduction – Professor Paul Gilbert
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Have you ever wondered what exactly DBT is? What are its essential components? What exactly are dialectics and why are they relevant to a psychological therapy? In this presentation, Professor Michaela Swales, an international expert in DBT, introduces you to the essential elements of DBT: underlying theories, treatment structure and treating clinical cases.
This presentation is aimed at those who know very little about DBT and who may be considering whether or not it is an appropriate intervention for their context, or for those who have heard about DBT and are curious to know more. There will be an opportunity to discuss the presented material and to assess whether DBT would be a good fit for your organisation or your clinical context.

Professor Michaela Swales, PhD
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Michaela Swales, PhD, is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with BCUHB and Reader in Clinical Psychology on the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme at Bangor University. She trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in Seattle in 1994 and 1995 with Marsha Linehan and for twenty years ran a clinical programme for suicidal young people in an inpatient service.
After completing specialist supervision in DBT, she became one of the founder members of the UK DBT Training Team in 1997 and Director of the Training Team in 2002. She has trained more than a thousand professionals in DBT, seeding over 400 programmes, in both the UK and further afield. She is the co-author of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Distinctive Features, which had its second edition published by Routledge in 2016 and Changing Behavior in DBT: Problem-Solving in Action, published by Guilford in 2015.
Reading Recommendations:
- https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/
- A brief outline can be found in the following article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963469/pdf/PE_3_9_62.pdf
- A good introductory text to the treatment is: Swales, M & Heard H (2017). Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Distinctive Features. Second Edition. London: Routledge
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy: An Introduction
Mindfulness based approaches such as MBCT are on the spotlight and it is wonderful that these concepts are getting more attention. However, as more people are introduced to these practices, there is often a misunderstanding of what MBCT really is. This webinar will explore the main characteristics of MBCT, its scientific base, and will try to clarify some common misconceptions or confusion with similar approaches. The session will also explore how MBCT can help us recognize how we become entangled in streams of worries, self-criticism and ruminative thinking, and slowly learn to break free from these patterns to improve our well-being. No prior mindfulness experience or knowledge required.
Learning outcomes:
- Be able to define MBCT and its unique features
- Explore the scientific evidence for the use of MBCT in depression relapses
- Differentiate MBCT from other Mindfulness-based interventions such as MBSR
- Understand how to practice and teach MBCT

Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy: An Introduction
Dr Cinzia Pezzolesi is a chartered Clinical Psychologist and senior lecturer in mental health and wellbeing. She qualified as a mindfulness teacher at the University of Bangor and as CBT therapist at Oxford University.
Dr Pezzolesi is currently acting as the Clinical Director of The Mindfulness Project (UK), and over the years has developed a strong research interest around wellbeing and mental health in various health care settings. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, eating disorders and mental health and wellbeing at work.
Cinzia also has a passion for Mindful Eating, which has led her to train as a Mindful Eating teacher and to develop professional training for other like-minded professionals. She is the Vice President of the Centre for Mindful Eating in the USA, a space dedicated to the education of professionals and general public around food and the interconnection between our bodies and minds.
Reading Recommendations:
- What is Mindfulness?
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/mindfulness
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/ - Benefits of mindfulness:
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner - Basics of CBT:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/about-cbt/
MBCT for Depression: Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., Ridgeway, V. A., Soulsby, J. M., & Lau, M. A. (2000). Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(4), 615–623. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.4.615
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/mindfulness
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/about-cbt/
MBCT for Depression: Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., Ridgeway, V. A., Soulsby, J. M., & Lau, M. A. (2000). Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(4), 615–623. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.4.615
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Tickets
Full Day Pass: £49.99
(includes VAT + Booking Fee)
Student/Unwaged: £26.99
(includes VAT + Booking Fee)
Date and time
20/12/2020
09:30 – 17:00 GMT
Venue
Online Video Conference
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Date and time
20/12/2020
09:30 – 17:00 GMT
Location
Online Video Conference
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