Compassion Focused Therapy for Mood in Dementia - Presentation

This presentation will provide an overview of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), its core principles and adaptations for supporting people living with dementia and low mood. The session will share detailed qualitative insights into participants’ and carers’ experiences and include a few short, guided compassion-focused exercises for attendees to experience the approach firsthand.

The presentation is free and suitable for all people with an interest in CFT or dementia care, including professionals, carers and people living with dementia.

The presenter is Melissa Melville, an NHS researcher and PhD student specialising in cognitive ageing, dementia and psychological wellbeing in later life. She works at North East London NHS Foundation Trust and University College London (UCL), where she leads a randomised controlled trial of CFT for people living with dementia and low mood.

Melissa is supervised by Professor Aimee Spector, Director of the UCL International CST Centre and the UCL Menopause Mind Lab. Professor Spector will be in attendance at the presentation as a Distinguished Visitor to University of Canberra in November 2025.

The event will be held at University of Canberra Hospital. Accessible parking is available and free parking is adjacent to the hospital. Participants should bring a pen and paper to take notes.

A cafe is located on the ground floor of University of Canberra Hospital for refreshments.