Enhancing self-compassion in individuals with visible skin conditions: Randomised Pilot of the "My Changed Body" Self-Compassion Writing Intervention

The My Changed Body intervention is a self-compassion focused writing exercise designed to enhance self-compassion through a series of 6 guided writing prompts. It has been developed for use in the breast cancer context and successfully trialled and published. Writers focus on an aspect of their body related to their skin condition that has led to a negative experience. The intervention entails undertaking a sequence of brief writing to view their skin condition negative body-related experience in a more self-compassionate light. The exercise entails approximately 30 minutes' duration of writing in an online environment. All participants must complete all writing exercises. Participants are able to complete the initial survey and writing exercise in a location of their choosing, as long as they have internet access. To progress through the study, participants needed to progress through the writing task. Any participants not choosing to complete the writing were able to withdraw from the study through their non-completion and by closing the browser. An example of the writing prompts is: Kindness to your body Think about how your body has changed through your experience with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Please write a paragraph about whether or not you have treated your body and yourself with kindness during this time.