Can compassion focused therapy enhance dual recovery for veterans?

In our clinical work with veterans experiencing serious mental illness and substance use disorders, we noticed specific challenges not commonly addressed with traditional dual recovery group therapy-including having overactive threat systems and feelings of shame and self-criticism. For a program development project at our Veterans Affairs Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center, we designed and implemented a group therapy program based on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), a therapeutic model that directly addresses the aforementioned challenges (Gilbert, 2009b). Results from pre- and post-intervention measures suggested veterans gained compassion and mindfulness skills and experienced reduced depressive symptoms.