Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) For Adolescents in NY, NJ & CT
Adolescent CFT in NY, NJ & CT
Adolescence can be a challenging time, often marked by intense emotions and self-doubt. Many young people struggle with high levels of shame and self-criticism, which can significantly impact their well-being and contribute to conditions like anxiety, depression, and the effects of trauma. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), developed by Dr. Paul Gilbert, is an approach that aims to help individuals develop and access compassion for themselves and others.
Our Adolescent CFT Program Helps Young People
- Understand the origins of self-criticism and shame.
- Develop skills to soothe themselves and manage distressing emotions with kindness.
- Cultivate a compassionate inner voice to counter harsh self-judgment.
- Increase feelings of safety, warmth, and self-acceptance.
- Build resilience to navigate life's challenges more effectively.
Who Can Benefit from Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)?
CFT might be a fit if your adolescent experiences:
Emotional and Social Patterns:
Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or inadequacy.
Symptoms of depression, including sadness, hopelessness, or loss of interest.
Social withdrawal or fear of judgment from others.
A harsh inner critic; frequently putting themselves down.
Difficulty managing emotions without resorting to self-blame.
High levels of anxiety, worry, or fear, especially related to social situations or performance.
Struggles with perfectionism that lead to distress rather than satisfaction.
Behavioral Tendencies:
Avoiding situations where they might be evaluated or make mistakes.
Struggling to recover from setbacks or disappointments.
Difficulty accepting kindness or positive feedback from others.
Appearing overly sensitive to perceived criticism.
Engaging in self-sabotaging behaviors driven by feelings of unworthiness.
Related Conditions Where Self-Criticism is Prominent:
Anxiety Disorders (e.g., social anxiety, generalized anxiety).
Depressive Disorders.
Eating concerns or body image issues driven by self-criticism.
Situations where an adolescent has not responded well to traditional CBT cognitive behavioral therapy alone, and self-criticism remains a barrier.
Low self-esteem or difficulties with self-worth.
Trauma-related disorders (e.g., PTSD), especially if shame is a significant component. CFT is a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.
KEY PRINCIPLES OF CFT FOR ADOLESCENTS
Our CFT program provides a safe and nurturing environment where adolescents can learn to relate to themselves and their experiences with greater kindness and understanding. CFT helps clients build inner warmth, tolerate distress, and respond to themselves with kindness rather than judgment. We focus on several key areas, drawing from the core components of CFT, to foster lasting emotional well-being:
Why Choose Metro NY for CFT for Adolescents
Choosing us for your adolescent’s therapeutic journey means accessing a team dedicated to providing expert and compassionate care.
Advanced Expertise in CFT
Our clinicians are trained in Compassion-Focused Therapy and understand its specific application for adolescents struggling with self-criticism, shame, and related emotional difficulties.
Developmentally-tailored for Adolescents
We adapt CFT principles and practices to be engaging, understandable, and relevant to the unique developmental stage and challenges faced by teenagers.
An Integrated, Supportive Framework
While CFT is often delivered individually, its principles can complement family work and other therapeutic modalities, fostering a supportive environment for your teen’s growth. We emphasize collaboration with parents/caregivers where appropriate.
Collaboration of Care

As a comprehensive mental health center, we offer seamless collaboration of care. If your adolescent’s needs evolve, or if adjunctive services are beneficial, we can provide smooth transitions and coordinated support within our trusted team.
Our Approach to CFT at Metro NY DBT Center
Our approach to CFT for adolescents is designed to be gentle, supportive, and empowering. The environment is intentionally warm and nonjudgmental to help counteract the self-critical mindset.
Comprehensive Assessment & Pretreatment Phase
- Initial Intake: Sessions with the adolescent and parent(s)/caregiver(s) to gather history, understand current challenges (particularly patterns of self-criticism and shame), discuss treatment goals, and determine if CFT is the most appropriate approach (CPT: 90834).
- Treatment Recommendation: Discussion of assessment findings and collaborative development of a personalized treatment plan (CPT Code: 90834).
- Building Rapport & Psychoeducation: Early sessions focus on building a safe therapeutic relationship and helping the adolescent understand the basic model of CFT, including the three emotional systems.
Core CFT Treatment Phase:
- Weekly Individual Therapy: Sessions with the adolescent’s primary CFT therapist (CPT: 90834).
- Parent/Caregiver Consultation (As needed): Sessions to provide parents with psychoeducation about CFT, discuss how to support their teen’s progress, and address any relevant family dynamics (CPT: 90846).
- Commitment To Therapy: Consistent participation and engagement are key to benefiting from CFT.
- Hybrid Model Of Delivery: Individual sessions may be available virtually or in-person, as decided with the therapist.
How CFT Helps Teens Build Resilience At Metro NY DBT Center
Choosing Metro NY DBT Center for Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) means providing your adolescent with a supportive and evidence-based path towards healing and self-acceptance.
- Expertise in compassion-focused approaches for youth: Our clinicians are skilled in applying CFT principles to help adolescents overcome the burden of self-criticism and shame.
- Focus on building lasting inner resources: CFT equips teens with practical, actionable strategies to cultivate inner warmth, soothe distressing emotions, and build a more compassionate relationship with themselves.
- An evidence-based path to emotional healing: In a world that can be highly critical, we provide a safe and structured environment where adolescents can find relief from self-judgment and develop lasting psychological flexibility and authentic self-acceptance. Research indicates that CFT can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders.
- A collaborative and supportive experience: We view the adolescent and their family (where appropriate) as active partners in the therapeutic journey, working together to tailor treatment to their unique goals and experiences.
Book a Consultation For Adolescent CFT
If your adolescent struggles with high levels of self-criticism, shame, anxiety, or depression, our specialized CFT program may offer the support and skills they need to build a kinder, more resilient inner world. Contact us to learn more about how this compassionate approach can help your teen. Schedule your consultation today.
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Frequently Asked Questions About CFT For Adolescents
How is CFT different from other therapies like CBT or DBT for teens?
CFT places a primary emphasis on cultivating compassion, warmth, and self-soothing as a direct way to address suffering, especially when driven by shame and self-criticism. CFT explores the function of emotions from an evolutionary perspective and actively trains the brain's "soothing system." It can be a powerful complement or alternative when self-criticism is a major barrier in other therapies. However, if you want to know more about DBT for Adolescents please visit our specialized page.
What kinds of problems does CFT help adolescents with?
CFT is particularly helpful for adolescents who struggle with:
- High levels of self-criticism and harsh inner judgment, it is an effective therapy for self-criticism in teens
- Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or inadequacy.
- Anxiety (especially social anxiety or performance anxiety rooted in fear of negative evaluation).
- Depression (where low self-worth and hopelessness are prominent).
- The emotional aftermath of trauma, particularly if it has led to self-blame.
- Perfectionism that causes significant distress.
Is my teen a good candidate for CFT?
CFT may be appropriate if your adolescent is highly self-critical, experiences a lot of shame, or finds it difficult to be kind to themselves, especially when they are struggling. Our comprehensive assessment process will help determine if CFT is the best fit for your teen's specific needs and challenges.
What role do parents play in CFT treatment for adolescents?
Parents and caregivers play a vital, supportive role. This may involve participating in intake sessions, attending periodic consultation sessions to learn about CFT principles, and understanding how to foster a compassionate and supportive home environment.
Is this program offered virtually or in person?
Our CFT program for adolescents may be offered through a hybrid model.
How long is the CFT program for adolescents?
The duration of CFT varies depending on the individual adolescent's needs, the complexity of their challenges, and their engagement in the process.