Petrocchi, Nicola

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Nicola Petrocchi, Ph.D, Psy.D, is a licensed CBT psychotherapist based in Rome, Adjunct Professor of Psychology at John Cabot University (Rome) and student counselor. During his international Ph.D in Psychology and Social Neuroscience, he spent one year as a visiting scholar at Boston University in the lab of Prof. Stefan Hofmann, where he conducted research on the effect of Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) on dysthymic patients. He completed Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Neuroimaging Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia (Rome). He has been the director of the Psycho-social Center for immigrants and refugees of the Identification and Expulsion Centre, Rome (C.I.E. of Ponte Galeria), and he is now Clinical advisor of several Psycho-social Services of Cooperativa Sociale AUXILIUM. After more than 6 years of direct training and supervision with Prof. Gilbert, he is now an accredited Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) therapist and trainer in Italy and Europe. He also established Compassionate Mind Italia, the Italian association for the research, training and dissemination of CFT in Italy. He translated and edited in Italian the book “Compassion Focused Therapy: distinctive features” by Prof. Paul Gilbert (published by Franco Angeli). His research topic focuses on the physiological correlates of prosocial motivations, and the activation of compassion towards ourselves and others to overcome pathological self-criticism and improve psychophysiological wellbeing. He is the author of several national and international peer review publications and book chapters.

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    Affirmative Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Compassion‑Based Group Intervention for Sexual Minorities (Free2Be): A Non‑Randomized Mixed‑Method Study for Feasibility with Exploratory Analysis of Efectiveness
    (Springer, 2024) Seabra, Daniel; Gato, Jorge; Petrocchi, Nicola; do Céu Salvador, Maria
    Objectives. Despite sexual minority (SM), i.e. individuals who identify as lesbian women, gay men, bisexual, or pansexual, individuals presenting worse mental health outcomes when compared to heterosexual individuals, they face more difculties in accessing afrmative and quality health services. This study is a mixed-method non-randomized single-arm trial targeting SM individuals assessing the feasibility and exploratory fndings from an afrmative mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion-based group intervention (Free2Be). Method. Eighteen participants who self-identifed as SM, with a mean age of 30.80 years old, underwent a face-to-face group intervention with 13 weekly sessions (Free2Be). Feasibility was assessed in three domains (acceptability, practicality, and preliminary efectiveness) with self-report questionnaires and hetero-report interviews, during and after the intervention, and using a mixed-methods approach. Using a pre–post and participant-by-participant design, changes were assessed in self-reported internalized stigma, psychopathology indicators, and mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion processes. Results. The Free2Be was acceptable and feasible in all three domains. Participants who completed the intervention (≥80% of attendance) revealed signifcant or reliable decreases in stress and social anxiety symptoms, self-criticism, and fear of compassion for the self. Conclusions. The study provides evidence of the feasibility of the intervention. This afrmative mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion-based group intervention seems to be feasible and acceptable for SM individuals. These promising fndings warrant further investigation within a pilot study.
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    A three-arm randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of mindful compassion for perfectionism in reducing perfectionistic cognitions
    (American Psychological Association, 2024) Cheli, Simone; Cavalletti, Veronica; Goldzweig, Gil; Bui, Sara; Petrocchi, Nicola; Flett, Gordon L.; Hewitt, Paul L.
    The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of mindful compassion for perfectionism (MCP). MCP is an 8-week group intervention that integrates compassion-focused therapy and dynamic relational therapy and has been previously pilot-tested in a few case series. Seventy-two postgraduate students with clinically high perfectionistic traits were randomly assigned either to a control group (wait-list) or two different formats of MCP (online or in-person). Primary outcomes were feasibility (safety, completion, adherence) of MCP and change in perfectionistic cognitions between active treatments and control group. Secondary analyses explored pre–post changes and differences between the two active groups in perfectionistic cognitions, psychosocial distress, group functioning, and self-soothing. No dropouts or unwanted adverse events were reported, 6.25% of participants missed a single session and 8.33% were excluded from the study for having missed more than one. MCP treatments—both individually and as a unique group—showed a greater reduction of perfectionistic cognitions and psychosocial distress than wait-list (ηp² ranging between .565 and .591). In-person MCP indicated a greater reduction of perfectionistic cognitions and psychosocial distress and a greater increase in group functioning and self-soothing than online MCP (ηp² ranging between .157 and .394). These findings suggest the feasibility and efficacy of MCP in reducing perfectionistic cognitions and psychosocial distress. The in-person format is seemingly more effective than the online format. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
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    Compassionate Bodies, Compassionate Minds: Psychophysiological Concomitants of Compassion-Focused Therapy
    (Oxford University Press, 2024) Petrocchi, Nicola; Ottaviani, Cristina
    The evolutionary approach has been increasingly used to deepen our understanding of human psychology. In this chapter, in line with the evolution-informed bio-psycho-social approach of compassion-focused therapy (CFT), we will conceptualize compassion as a purely human motivational system evolved from the caregiving motivation. This evolutionary framework will help us understand the psychophysiological changes that compassion generates in our organism, particularly in the parasympathetic nervous system, and how these can be voluntarily induced and used to promote therapeutic change. Several case narratives will illustrate the psychophysiological and emotional impact of helping clients experience compassion for themselves and others. Using a neurovisceral integration model, we will suggest how activating a compassionate motivation, both toward self and others, will promote emotional regulation and feelings of intra- and inter-personal safeness. Improved self-regulation will help clients respond flexibly and more courageously to changing and challenging environments, one being precisely the therapeutic path.