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CCG Passion and Purpose:
The Compassion Center of Georgia, Inc. collaborates with Emory University's Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics in Atlanta, GA. to tailor the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) program to address the unique needs of our city. We work alongside nonprofit organizations that are actively involved in these communities and addressing everyday needs. The Compassion Center of Georgia is familiar with many of the traumas that affect underserved communities. For instance, we collaborate with the IVYY program at Grady Hospital to address inner-city gun violence, and with Atlanta’s Circle of Safety, which serves vulnerable populations.
As CBCT instructors, we collaborate closely with community leaders to equip them with the skills necessary to foster empathy and determination within their communities. Through tailored training sessions and ongoing support, I help these leaders develop the ability to address challenges with compassion and strength.
Since we initiated this program, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in their effectiveness and dedication. Their enhanced resilience enables them to navigate obstacles more confidently, while their increased compassion fosters stronger, more cohesive communities. This growth enriches both their personal and professional lives and creates a ripple effect that inspires greater unity and progress throughout the community.
Dr. Belinda Douglas, the founder and CEO of the Compassion Center of Georgia, Inc., embodies a heartfelt commitment to fostering compassion in our communities. As a certified instructor in Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT), I am deeply dedicated to enhancing our understanding of compassion, having witnessed firsthand the profound impact that compassion—or the lack of it—can have on individuals and the collective well-being of communities. My personal journey, enriched by experiences of compassion and its absence, fuels my passion for teaching others about this vital quality. I've learned that compassion is the key to supporting people in living healthy and in harmony with themselves and others. I wholeheartedly believe that embracing compassion can profoundly transform our interactions and relationships.
In my role as a spiritual health clinician, I frequently turn to Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) as my primary modality during encounters. This approach has been life-changing for trauma survivors, helping them identify and challenge the negative thoughts that can perpetuate feelings of shame and blame. Through CBCT, I've seen individuals begin to grasp the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, leading them on a path toward healing. I’ve also had the privilege of supporting those grappling with anxiety and depression, guiding them in developing self-awareness of their negative thought patterns and encouraging them to reappraise those thoughts with compassion.
As a vital part of my daily practice, CBCT has not only nurtured my growth but has also profoundly impacted patients and staff in clinical settings. My goal is to share these valuable insights and help others embrace a more compassionate approach to life, fostering deeper and more meaningful connections. When compassion is practiced with wisdom and responsiveness, it blossoms into a lasting habit, benefitting both the giver and the receiver alike. In doing so, we contribute to a kinder, more just world.
The Compassion Center of Georgia works hand in hand with like-minded certified CBCT instructors who share this vision, striving to spread compassion across the globe. Together, we aspire to bring CBCT to every culture, organization and community, touching lives and hearts everywhere.
What is Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT)?
Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT) is a 20-hour course tailored to support professionals in every sector of business. CBCT helps professionals develop practical skills that foster resilience, reduce burnout, and enhance feelings of safety and security. Courses typically meet once weekly for eight to ten weeks or are offered intensively over three or four days.
This program focuses on improving self-awareness and self-compassion. CBCT is grounded in science-based concepts and trauma-informed practices to cultivate compassion effectively.
This comprehensive program emphasizes in-class engagement and personal interaction, ensuring that participants learn valuable skills and build supportive relationships.
The training starts with exercises to enhance attentional stability and emotional awareness, followed by analytical reflections to develop a compassionate relationship with oneself and others. Key objectives include increasing insight into personal reactions, enhancing psychological resilience, and fostering a nuanced understanding of others to promote empathetic connections. Ultimately, CBCT aims to inspire altruistic motivation and encourage acts of kindness.
First Responders: CBCT can enhance resilience, emotional regulation, and empathy. It equips first responders with tools to manage stress and maintain compassion even in challenging situations—demonstrates that human connection in public service matters in astonishing ways and missed opportunities for compassion can have devastating effects.
Violence Prevention Professionals : CBCT can empower community leaders, educators, and activists. By cultivating compassion, they can address violence, trauma, and social injustice effectively.
Government and Non-Profit Organizations: CBCT supports staff and volunteers in their mission-driven work. It prevents compassion fatigue and encourages sustainable care for others.
Professional Sports: Athletes and coaches can benefit from CBCT by developing compassion toward themselves, teammates, and opponents. It fosters a supportive team culture and mental well-being.
Corporate Settings: CBCT promotes compassionate leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution. It helps create a positive work environment, reduces burnout, and improves decision-making. Compassion can affect not only the outcomes of productivity but also the financial health of a corporation.
CBCT (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training) has been researched since its inception in 2004, with early studies by Dr. Charles Raison, MD suggesting it positively affects blood biomarkers related to stress and inflammation. Subsequent research indicated that CBCT may improve facial expression interpretation and enhance empathic reasoning.
Later studies suggest significant mental health benefits from CBCT, including reduced symptoms of depression and loneliness, increased hopefulness, and enhanced self-compassion, along with decreased stress-related biomarkers.
Various groups have engaged with CBCT in research, including veterans with PTSD, parents of children with autism, patients with depression and their partners, neonatal intensive care nurses, transgender youth and their parents, and public school teachers. Over a dozen studies have been published, with ongoing collaboration among psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and public health professionals to further investigate CBCT.
To see a selection from the Center of Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics published and peer-reviewed research, click here.
See the research section for more information.
CBCT® Background Info:
Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) was developed by Dr. Losang Negi at Emory University's Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics in Atlanta, GA. This program aims to systematically cultivate compassion, making it accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. Dr. Negi, is a long-term contemplative Investigator of well-being. Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics and Professor of Pedagogy in the Department of Religion at Emory University.