Professor Paul Gilbert stands as a preeminent figure in clinical psychology, renowned for his transformative contributions to therapeutic approaches for emotional regulation and mental health challenges. He currently serves as Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Centre for Compassion Research and Training at the University of Derby, where he has established himself as a leading authority for over four decades. After completing his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in 1980, he built his reputation through extensive clinical practice and research, eventually becoming head of the Mental Health Research Unit at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust until his retirement from the NHS in 2016. His academic journey began with studies in economics at the University of Wolverhampton followed by an MSc in Experimental Psychology from the University of Sussex, laying the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach to understanding depression and emotional disorders. Professor Gilbert has also held visiting professorships at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and currently serves as an honorary visiting Professor at the University of Queensland in Australia.
Professor Gilbert's pioneering development of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) represents one of the most significant contributions to contemporary psychological practice, particularly for individuals struggling with shame and self-criticism. His groundbreaking work integrates evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practices to create a comprehensive therapeutic framework that has been validated by numerous studies across 17 countries demonstrating CFT's effectiveness as a highly beneficial intervention. With over 23 books and 330 academic papers to his name, including seminal works such as The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life's Challenges and Overcoming Depression, his research has fundamentally reshaped therapeutic approaches to mood and anxiety disorders. Professor Gilbert's first book Depression: From Psychology to Brain State (1984) established his signature integrative approach, highlighting the critical importance of connecting social and physiological processes in understanding mental health conditions. His work has been instrumental in developing evidence-based interventions that address the evolutionary roots of human emotional difficulties, creating a paradigm shift in how clinicians approach compassion as a therapeutic tool rather than merely a virtue.
Beyond his theoretical contributions, Professor Gilbert has been instrumental in translating research into practical applications through the establishment of the Compassionate Mind Foundation in 2006, an international charity dedicated to promoting wellbeing through the scientific understanding and application of compassion. His leadership extends to significant policy influence, having served on the British Government's National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for depression under the chairmanship of Sir David Goldberg from 2002-2004. Professor Gilbert continues to shape the future of psychological practice through his ongoing research on compassionate mind training in educational settings and his mentorship of the next generation of clinical psychologists worldwide. As an editor for the Compassionate Approaches to Life Difficulties book series and active participant in the Emotion, Personality and Altruism Research Group at the Wright Institute since 1992, he remains at the forefront of advancing compassionate approaches to mental health treatment. His current work focuses on expanding the application of compassion-focused approaches to address global challenges in mental healthcare, ensuring that his legacy continues to evolve and impact therapeutic practice for generations to come.
