Who we are and how this book came to be
We are three clinical psychologists, researchers, meditators, but most importantly human beings, who found their home in Compassion Focused Therapy. This book was born within a much larger project in collaboration with Paul Gilbert, with the intent of creating a manual that can encompass the complexity and depth of CFT. Our wish is that the growing community of CFT therapists may find a guide and companion for their practice, their research and clinical endeavours.
Niki Petrocchi
Niki Petrocchi, PhD and PsyD, has been working for more than a decade for the advancement of Compassion Focused Therapy.
After years of collaboration and continuing education with Paul Gilbert (creator of CFT), they founded Compassionate Mind Italia, the only Italian association recognized by the British foundation (Compassionate Mind UK) for dissemination, research and training in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). Niki is involved in CFT training and supervision in both Italian and international contexts (England, United States, Spain, Belgium, Slovakia); they translated and edited Paul Gilbert’s volume “Compassion Focused Therapy, Distinguishing Characteristics,” published by Routledge; collaborates with Paul Gilbert in conducting training courses in Italy and England and in numerous research projects investigating HRV as a physiological index of compassion activation.
They have published numerous articles and chapters internationally.
James Kirby
James N. Kirby, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland.
He has broad research interests in compassion, but specifically examines factors that facilitate and inhibit compassionate responding. He also examines the clinical effectiveness of compassion focused interventions, specifically in how they help with self-criticism and shame that underpin many depression and anxiety disorders. James also holds a Visiting Fellowship at the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and is an Honorary Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation UK.
In 2022 he authored Choose Compassion, and in 2020 he co-edited Making an Impact on Mental Health. He serves as an Associate Editor for two international journals Mindfulness and Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice.
Beatrice Baldi
Beatrice Baldi, PhD scholar in Neuroscience at La Sapienza University, Clinical Psychologist, trainer in Compassion Focused Therapy, and has been collaborating for several years with Niki Petrocchi in the dissemination of a Compassion-focused approach to yoga.
Beatrice is a certified 500H RYT Yoga teacher, she has furthered her studies in Yoga Therapy, focusing on Yoga for issues of anxiety, body image, chronic pain, and stress management.
Certified in Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, she leads groups and individual sessions in pathways aimed at restoring one’s mental and physical well-being, often working in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
Beatrice has experience teaching other forms of mindful movement and is passionate about integrating body disciplines, Eastern philosophies, Western psychology and neuroscience.