The effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy with internalized shame and self-criticism on emotionally abused women

Aim of this study was evaluation of effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy on internalized shame and self-criticism of emotionally abused women. This quasi-experimental study was a pretest-post test with control group, and 45 days follow up. The statistical population were married women referred to counseling centers in area 2 of Tehran in 2016. After reviewing the clinical and diagnostic interview, 40 women whose scores were one degree higher than standard deviation from mean in emotional abuse scale, were selected randomly and were assigned randomly in two experimental and control groups. Before starting treatment both groups responded to scales of internalized shame and self-criticism and then the experimental group received compassion-focused therapy in 8 sessions for 90 minutes and control group did not receive any treatment at this time. By post-test and follow-up treatment both groups were evaluated. Mixed analysis of variance showed that group training compassion treatment focused on internalized shame has been effective on experimental group in post-test and follow-up. This training also significantly reduced internal self-criticism and comparative self -critical of experimental group. Based on the results, compassion-focused therapy can be used as a new intervention method for reducing internalized shame and self-criticism in women with emotional abuse.