Recovery through affiliation: A compassionate approach to schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (COMPASS)

Described as a contextual behavioural approach, Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) aims at helping people develop compassionate relationships both with others and with the self. CFT has been used to promote recovery in psychosis with promising results. The development process of the Compassionate Approach to Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder (COMPASS) builds upon the available research on contextual behavioural approaches for psychosis. Its main framework is the affect regulation system's model and the compassion-focused therapy rationale as it was adapted for psychosis. Other theoretical and empirical influences are presented and innovations regarding CFT protocols for psychosis are highlighted. COMPASS is already being studied and details on the pilot study are provided. With further study and continuing improvement COMPASS has the potential to help foster recovery in psychosis.