Using Self-Compassion to Influence Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: A Case Study of Women

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research on self-compassion has focused on implementing psychoeducation and experiential exercises to groups with the goal of increasing individuals’ self-kindness, mindfulness, and sense of shared humanity. This study addressed how implementing a self-compassionate intervention in individual psychotherapy influences a woman’s self-compassion and romantic relationship satisfaction. The researcher used case study notes and assessments with four females who received a self-compassionate intervention over five 45-min sessions. All participants reported an increase in self-compassion during the intervention. Participants also verbalized improvement to their romantic relationship satisfaction, confirmed in 75% of the participants’ assessments. The women predominantly cited experiencing change in their evaluated perception of their relationship during and after the intervention, despite a lack of change in their partner.