Home⇛Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal⇛vol. 47 no. 5 (2025)

Implementation and Potential Benefits of Compassion Focused Therapy to Adolescent Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Nikko Malazarte

Discipline: others in psychology

 

Abstract:

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is a third-wave, action-oriented therapeutic approach that emerged as an outgrowth of cognitive-behavioral therapy. There have been few studies that share understanding about its implementation and potential benefits in adolescent mental health, particularly in a school setting. A scoping review of databases was conducted through advanced search options to address this gap in the literature. The purpose of the study is to scope CFT in the practice of school mental health among adolescents. The review focused on treatment outcomes and possible integration with other therapeutic programs. Findings revealed several themes related to Compassion Focused Therapy in school and mental health settings, as well as their implications for practice. The paper presented key findings on the use of compassion techniques for adolescent mental health, as the trend in the literature predominantly focuses on the adult population.



References:

  1. Bashi, N., Fatehi, F., Mosadeghi-Nik, M., Askari, M., & Karunanithi, M. (2020). Digital health interventions for chronic diseases: A scoping review of evaluation frameworks. BMJ Health & Care Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjhci-2019-100066 
  2. Bratt, A. S., Rusner, M., & Svensson, I. (2020). An exploration of group-based compassion-focused therapy for adolescents and their parents. Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, 8, 38–47. https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2020-005 
  3. Brinckman, B., Alfaro, E., Wooten, W., & Herringa, R. (2024). The promise of compassion-based therapy as a novel intervention for adolescent PTSD. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 15, 100694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100694
  4. Carona, C., Rijo, D., Salvador, M. do C., Castilho, P., & Gilbert, P. (2017). Compassion-focused therapy with children and adolescents. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 23, 240. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.115.015420 
  5. Craig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A. (2020). Compassion focused therapy: A systematic review of its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 20(4), 385–400. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2020.1757265 
  6. Durant, D. J., Colburn, V. F., & Guerrazzi-Young, C. (2025). Impact of a mindful self-compassion workshop incorporating sandtray on burnout in undergraduate nursing students: A mixed methods, pre-post study. Nurse Education in Practice, 82, 104203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104203 
  7. Egan, S. J., Rees, C. S., Delalande, J., Greene, D., Fitzallen, G., Brown, S., Webb, M., & Finlay-Jones, A. (2022). A review of self-compassion as an active ingredient in the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression in young people. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 49(3), 385–403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-021-01170-2 
  8. Finlay-Jones, A. L. (2017). The relevance of self-compassion as an intervention target in mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review based on an emotion regulation framework. Clinical Psychologist, 21(2), 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12131 
  9. Garrett, C., Smith, D. M., & Wittkowski, A. (2025). The acceptability of compassion-focused therapy in clinical populations: A metasynthesis of the qualitative literature. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1400962
  10. Joss, D., Datko, M., Washington, C. I., Tresvalles, M. A., Mete, M., Lazar, S. W., Schuman-Olivier, Z., & Hoge, E. A. (2025). Neural correlates of reduction in self-judgment after mindful self-compassion training: A pilot study with resting state fMRI. Journal of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, 9, 100096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjmad.2024.100096 
  11. Kirby, J. N., Tellegen, C. L., & Steindl, S. R. (2017). A meta-analysis of compassion-based interventions: Current state of knowledge and future directions. Behavior Therapy, 48(6), 778–792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2017.06.003  
  12. Lau-Zhu, A., & Vella, L. (2023). A compassion-focused therapy group for young people who live in foster, adoptive or kinship care: Initial development, reflections, and ways forward. Adoption & Fostering, 47(4), 400–414. https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759231207397 
  13. Leaviss, J., & Uttley, L. (2015). Psychotherapeutic benefits of compassion-focused therapy: An early systematic review. Psychological Medicine, 45(5), 927–945. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291714002141 
  14. Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O’Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(69). https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69
  15. Liu, A., Xu, B., Liu, M., Wang, W., & Wu, X. (2023). The reciprocal relations among self-compassion, posttraumatic stress disorder, and posttraumatic growth among adolescents after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake: A three-wave cross-lagged study. Journal of Mental Health, 32(3), 634–642. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2023.2182411 
  16. Matos, M., Albuquerque, I., Galhardo, A., Cunha, M., Lima, M., Palmeira, L., Petrocchi, N., McEwan, K., Maratos, F., & Gilbert, P. (2022). Nurturing compassion in schools: A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a compassionate mind training program for teachers. PLOS ONE, 17, Article e0263480. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263480 
  17. Millard, L. A., Wan, M. W., Smith, D. M., & Wittkowski, A. (2023). The effectiveness of compassion focused therapy with clinical populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 326, 168–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.010 
  18. Nielsen, C. L., Clemensen, J., Jensen, C. S., Callesen, M. T., Smith, A., & Holm, K. G. (2024). Health professionals’ presence and attributes in connecting with parents of children with cancer: A qualitative study through the lens of compassion. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 72, 102683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102683 
  19. Or, J., Anderson, A. M., & Golba, E. A. (2024). Nurturing compassion and cultural humility in health professions students through a brief mindfulness practice. PEC Innovation, 5, 100338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecinn.2024.100338 
  20. Qu, Y. (2024). From childhood emotional abuse to adolescent loneliness: The roles of self-compassion and rejection sensitivity. Child Abuse & Neglect, 156, 107020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107020 
  21. Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., ... Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850 
  22. Walton, C., Osborne, M., Gilbert, P., & Kirby, J. (2022). Nurturing self-compassionate performers. Australian Psychologist, 57, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2022.2033952 
  23. Wang, L., Zha, G., Chen, F., Zhang, J., Li, X., Wang, Z., Luo, J., & Song, C. (2025). The impact of childhood emotional abuse on non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with mood disorders: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1553437
  24. Zuair, A. (2025). Effect of the reassured self-compassion–based school program on anxiety, video game addiction, and body image among rural female adolescents: Retrospective study. JMIR Formative Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/68840

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic