Experience of new mothers maintaining self compassion after CFT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Grounded Theory of Facilitators and Barriers for New Mothers in Maintaining Self-compassion after Compassion-Based Therapy in the Perinatal Period
IRAS ID
364111
Contact name
Sasha Lloyd Briscoe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University, Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research suggests that building self compassion can have transdiagnostic benefits acting as a protective factor towards mental health difficulties. Self compassion is defined as relating to oneself with care and support when we suffer, with an understanding of suffering as a shared human experience. This is a key element of compassion based therapy. The perinatal period (during pregnancy and one year after birth) can be a particularly difficult transitionary period, with self-criticism being found to increase both through and after pregnancy. The effectiveness of compassion-based therapy is continuing to be shown in this period. However, CFT research suggests multiple barriers in maintaining self-compassion (e.g., misconceptions of self-compassion as weak or indulgent, difficulties maintaining practice and unfamiliarity with the approach). The perinatal period is likely to be a particularly difficult time to make and maintain changes, potentially due to new routines, external pressures and expectations placed on new parents. This highlights that whilst building self-compassion during the perinatal period can have positive benefits, this process of change may come with potential barriers.
Any new habit is enhanced by increase practice through time to allow it to become more effortless and automatic, highlighting the importance of the journey with self-compassion post-therapy. This abbreviated grounded theory seeks to build detailed experiences, through interviews, to form initial theories of change. This is specifically considering women and birthing-peoples experiences and relationships with building self-compassion during and after compassion-based therapy in the perinatal period. Consenting participants are invited to take part in online semi-structured interviews. Participants will be women and birthing-people over the age of 18 who have had compassion-based therapy during the perinatal period. Questions will be focused on self-compassion journey, facilitators and barriers to developing and/or maintaining self-compassion, their experience of ending therapy, experience of self-compassion post-therapy, and what self-compassion might look like to them.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
26/WA/0047
Date of REC Opinion
1 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion