Effectiveness of Group-Based Compassion-Focused Therapy Program in Reducing Trauma-Related Symptoms for Adult Female Survivors of Sexual Assault.

Study will develop and test a group-based intervention for adult female survivors of sexual assault utilising the underlying framework and core skills and techniques of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). CFT has been developed by Paul Gilbert to assist clients to cultivate self-compassion as an antidote to high levels of shame and self-criticism. It includes the development of core compassion-based attributes such as care for well-being, sensitivity, sympathy, distress tolerance, empathy, and non-judgement/acceptance, all underpinned by an emotional tone of warmth. Specific skills utilised in CFT to develop these attributes are compassionate imagery, compassionate attention, compassionate feeling, sensory focusing, compassionate behaviour, and compassionate thinking/reasoning. An 8 week x 2 hr group program will be developed based on these core CFT skills and attributes, specifically adapted for the needs of the target group (adult female sexual assault survivors). Participants will be recruited from specialised sexual assault services within Queensland. The study will consist of 4 stages: 1) focus group discussions with sexual assault survivors and counsellors who work with them, in relation to their experience and understanding of self-compassion and related concepts, 2) development and pilot of Compassion-Focused Therapy for Sexual Assault (CFT-SA) group program which will be trialled with approximately 8-10 participants over an 8 week period, with 2 hour sessions per week, 3) training of other sexual assault counsellors to facilitate the program, and 4) delivery of the program and measuring effectiveness against a control group. The focus group discussions, development and delivery of the pilot group program, and development and delivery of the training modules, will be undertaken by the principal investigator, who is a registered psychologist with significant experience working in the area of abuse and trauma, with specialist knowledge in sexual assault. Stage 4 of the study will include other suitably trained and experienced (minimum 5 years) sexual assault counsellors in facilitation of the program. The specific content of the CFT-SA group program has not yet been developed as it will be partially informed by information obtained in stage 1 of the project (focus group discussions). Similarly, the specific content of the training structure or content for other counsellors is not yet fully developed as it will be determined by the content of the program. It is anticipated that stage 4 of the trial will also involve 8 x weekly 2 hour group sessions, with a comparable control group format. However final determination of the content and structure of the program will be largely influenced by outcomes from the pilot program in stage 2. Trial information will be updated once these details are known.