Exploring the Flow of Compassion in Educational Psychology Practice

This reflective and interactive session will explore how compassion flows within Educational Psychology practice - towards others, towards ourselves, and from others towards us - and how these different flows can become strengthened, blocked, or difficult to sustain under pressure.

Grounded in ideas from Compassion Focused Therapy and research into fears and barriers to compassion, the session will create a psychologically informed space for Educational Psychologists to reflect on the emotional and relational demands of their role, and consider what supports sustainable compassionate practice over time. They would leave with practical, applicable strategies for different layers of their working lives.

The session will include:

• A brief introduction to compassion and the different “flows” of compassion.
• Reflective activities exploring common barriers to giving, receiving, and sustaining compassion in Educational Psychology work
• Opportunities for small-group discussion and shared reflection
• Exploration of how compassion can become difficult under pressure, uncertainty, emotional demand, or organisational stress
• Practical activities focused on identifying small, realistic changes participants can take into their day-to-day work

Educational Psychologists will gain:

• Increased awareness of the emotional and relational patterns that shape their professional practice.
• Greater understanding of how self-criticism, over-functioning, emotional fatigue, or difficulty receiving support can affect compassionate practice.
• Space to reflect on sustaining compassion in complex systems and high-demand roles.
• Practical ideas for maintaining compassionate, effective practice over time.
• Shared language and frameworks that may support supervision, consultation, team reflection, and professional wellbeing.

Dr Jo Taylor is a Child and Educational Psychologist based in SW England. He is a researcher, trainer and director of Constellations Psychology. Jo is an Honourary Lecturere at the University of Manchester, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is currently completing a Churchill Fellowship, exploring compassion as a facilitator for caregiving behaviour.