Compassion Focused Therapy

After a phone call with my Occupational Health nurse, a lengthy telephone assessment with a counsellor and a telephone consultation with an independent doctor, it has been suggested that I have 14 sessions of Compassion Focused therapy.
Now I have never heard of this sort of therapy so had to Google it, as the next phone call I get about my treatment will be from the therapist who will be treating me and I'd like to know a bit about it first.
Apparently CFT is used to treat problems associated with shame, self-criticism and self-hate, which can be features of anxiety and depression. It helps people develop and work with experiences of inner warmth, safeness and soothing, via compassion and self-compassion.
The thing that has struck me about this is that I've always thought of myself as a compassionate person towards others and I'm pretty sure my friends and family would agree. OK, so I might be hard on myself and could give myself a break now and again, but with other people I am always there to lend an ear, or a shoulder and give a hug.
So I'm intrigued as to how this therapy is going to go and, of course I'm feeling anxious about it. I'll let you know how it goes....

Everyone is an expert.

I have found since I have been diagnosed with a mental illness that so many people suddenly think they know what's best for me! More so than my GP, therapist or Occupational Health Nurse, all of which I have spoken to in depth about my innermost thoughts and demons and cried my heart out to.
Some of the things I have heard or been told from these experts are;
"Wouldn't you be better off at work?"
"Keep yourself busy"
"Just have your glass half full and nothing can stop you"
"You are the only person stopping you getting better"
"Always look towards the light and then you'll never be in the shadows"
"Don't let it bother you"
"I wouldn't let things worry you too much"
"There's always someone worse off than you"
And so it goes on!
Thank you for your insightfulness Janice* if only I had known it was that simple. I shall relay these suggestions back to my medical team immediately! Look out for a press release with your findings. I'm sure your Phd is in the post.
I reckon there are many more that you and I have all heard and I really do wish it were that simple.....

* names have been changed to protect the guilty.