About the Book

 

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Compassion’s Compass, Strategies for Developing Insight, Kindness and Empathy

offers a systematic approach to developing compassionate insight that has been adapted from Tibetan mind training strategies, secularized for modern audiences, and supplemented with relevant research, anecdotes, and exercises in accessible language. It in includes a Handbook for Helping Professionals in order to help combat compassion fatigue. The strategy described in this book is called COMPASS, which is an an acronym for Compassion and Analytical Selective-Focus Skills. Selective-focus skills suggest contemplations that can help to generate and enhance compassionate insight.

Mind Training Exercises

These exercises follow an “emotional logic” in which one step produces a basis for cultivating the next. These skill steps are broken down in detail with each section of the book containing a discussion of the purpose of the skill being presented, supporting research for it, examples of its use, and short exercises for the reader to try in order to cultivate and enhance it. These techniques have been piloted with social workers and therapists-in-training. Details of these pilot studies are included. The exercises that are presented in each chapter are also compiled in order for easy use in the back of the book.

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The intended audience for this book includes

educators, helping professionals, students in training for careers in the helping professions, first responders, and any adult who may face compassion fatigue as a part of his or her career or as a part of coping with daily life.

Parents

may find that these exercises help them stay positively connected with their children.

Corporations

may be interested in this book in order to enhance employee relations and customer service.

Civil servants

might benefit from these exercises to reduce burnout and renew a commitment to service.

Anyone

People may also want to read this book for personal growth and well-being.

Narcissism vs. Compassion

Narcissism has a devastating effect on individuals and on culture.[1] Researchers are finding that excessive self-focus is linked to negative affect, impaired problem-solving abilities, heightened social anxiety, increased anger and aggression, and coronary disease. The social isolation that ensues from narcissism can be devastating. In contrast, compassionate insight leads to several health benefits including a strengthened immune system and better vagal tone. It increases happiness, calms and focuses us, improves social connections, enhances hope and well-being, and gives life meaning. Therefore, the subject matter of this book is of critical importance to individuals and to society.

Recognition at symposiums & conferences

COMPASS has received some recognition through various presentations including symposiums at national conferences

APA

At the national conference for the American Psychological Association (APA)

NASW

At the national conferences for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

ASTHO hosted a webinar for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in July 2019 in order help frontline workers combatting the opioid epidemic in overcoming compassion fatigue, which included information about COMPASS.

ASTHO Video with Wilson

Wilson had the privilege to work with ASTHO as they were striving to address the many challenges our country faced with the COVID 19 pandemic.  Here is a sample of an ASTHO video with Wilson on ways to regain equilibrium and well-being.

 

You can order your copy from the publisher >> here.

Studies on COMPASS

Three formal pilot studies have been conducted, two at George Mason University (2015) and a third at University of Maryland (2015). Participants in the two pilots at George Mason University indicated “increased positive emotions (e.g., empathy, compassion), decreased fear of compassion, and positive anticipated increases in empathy and compassion.[1] Some participants mentioned enhanced interest in developing compassion and commented on the importance of training in empathy and compassion as a support for providing effective counseling.[2] Therapists in training in the University of Maryland pilot study were given a two hour COMPASS training. Six participants were randomly assigned one of three possible tasks between client sessions: 1.) listen to a recording of a one minute COMPASS-based centering exercise on mindfulness and kindness, 2.) listen to a reminder of their supervision instructions, or 3.) prepare as usual. They completed measures after each session and completed the study with a 30 minute focus group. Following the training, they changed significantly in terms of mindfulness (i.e., curiosity and de-centeredness) and meditation self-efficacy. In terms of pre-session preparation, therapists evaluated sessions as more effective after the meditation intervention than after the preparation as usual condition. Further, they noted that pre-session meditation exercises led to a positive state of being and increased self-care and reflection. They also suggested that longer, at-home practice might ultimately be more helpful to them than pre-session exercises. Further research investigating the optimal mode and amount of COMPASS training in the context of clinical practice is indicated.[3]
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Footnotes

[1] Goodman, R. D., Hunt, C. H., Pruzinsky, T., Hurley, W. (2015), Brief Mindfulness-based Compassion Training: A Multi-method Approach to Assessing Positive Psychological Outcomes and Potential Barriers to Future Practice among Therapist Trainees. Grant Proposal, Unpublished.

[2] Goodman, R. D., Hurley, W., Pruzinsky, T., & Rietschel, C. H. (2016, April). Development of COMPASS: Mindfulness-based compassion training research. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Counseling Association, Montréal, QC.

[3] Hunt, C.A., Goodman, R. D., Hilert, A. J., Hurley, W., & Hill, C.E. (in preparation). Enhancing Therapist-Rated Presence and Session Effectiveness in Psychotherapy: A Mindfulness-Based Compassion Intervention.

[4] Hunt, C.A., Goodman, R.D., Hilert, A.J. Hurley, W. & Hill, C.E. (2021) A mindfulness-based compassion workshop and pre-session preparation to enhance therapist effectiveness in psychotherapy: A pilot study, Counselling Psychology Quarterly, DOI:  10.1080/09515070.2021.1895724

About the Author

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Wilson C. Hurley, LCSW

is a clinical social worker in private practice in Northern Virginia. He also worked as an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University from 2012-2024.  He specializes in working with children, adolescents and families, but also works with adults in individual and couples therapy.

Mr. Hurley developed a mindfulness program for children in an outpatient treatment program in the 1980s before entering the Fairfax County Public Schools where he worked in centers for emotionally disabled children for twelve years.

Since his return to private practice in 2001, Mr. Hurley has integrated mindfulness and other selective focus techniques into his work with clients. He has presented on mindfulness, mind/body research, and transforming stress to clinical social workers in the Fairfax County School System and has talked on spirituality and psychotherapy in various venues including

  • the Washington School of Psychiatry
  • the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, and
  • the Northern Virginia Regional Support Center.

 

More recently he has worked on a systematic approach to compassion development, which he presented at the 5th Annual Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education (ACMHE) at Amherst College, the National Association of Social Workers’ 2014 National Conference in Washington DC, and the American Psychological Association’s 2014 National Conference in Washington DC.

His publications include:

  • Enhancing a Positive School Climate with Compassion and Analytical Selective-Focus Skills (COMPASS), IISTE Journal of Education and Practice (2014)
  • The Water and Wood Shastras, which he co-translated from the Tibetan with Yeshe Khedrup (www.karunapublications.org, 2012)
  • Science and Buddhism: Studying Compassion, by Lorne Ladner, Ph.D. and Wilson Hurley, LCSW, FPMT Mandala Magazine, April 2005
  • What is Mind and What Happens to It When We Die? Journal of Mind and Behavior, 2014.
  • Compassion’s COMPASS, Strategies for Developing Insight, Kindness, and Empathy, Rowman & Littlefield, 2021.
 

You can order your copy from the publisher >> here.

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