Overview
Background
James N. Kirby, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Director of the Clinical Programs, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland. His research focus is on the science of compassion, exploring what helps or hinders our ability to be compassionate, with a key focus on the clinical effectiveness of compassion-focused interventions for addressing self-criticism and shame. James is an international trainer of Compassion Focused Therapy and is an accredited clinical supervisor, and STAP accredited Trainer. James is an Honorary Associate Professor of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University, an Honorary Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation UK, a Fellow of the Mind & Life Institute, and a founding board member of the Global Compassion Coalition. In 2022 he authored Choose Compassion, and in 2020 he co-edited Making an Impact on Mental Health. His new book just published by Routledge is called, The Essentials of Compassion Focused Therapy: A Practice Manual for Clinicians.
Availability
- Associate Professor James Kirby is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychological Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Deepening Self-Compassion
This project will examine novel intervention strategies to deepen self-compassion
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Compassionate decision-making
This project is examining predictors to compassionate-decision making using behavioural measures
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Compassion and athletes
This project examines how compassion can help in the context of sports and athletes
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Examining the psychological impacts of integrated residential housing for young people with high-level disability
This project is supported by funding from YoungCare
Works
Search Professor James Kirby’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Conference Publication
Can a simple online CFT resource provide psychological support to mothers of infants?
Whittingham, K., Mitchell, A.E., Lennard, G., Steindl, S. and Kirby, J. (2021). Can a simple online CFT resource provide psychological support to mothers of infants?. World Association for Infant Mental Health 17th World Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 22-26 June 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Compassion-focused technologies: reflections and future directions
Day, Jamin, Finkelstein, Joel C., Field, Brent A., Matthews, Benjamin, Kirby, James N. and Doty, James R. (2021). Compassion-focused technologies: reflections and future directions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 603618, 603618. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.603618
2021
Journal Article
The relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms: avoidance and activation as mediators
Adie, Taylor, Steindl, Stanley R., Kirby, James N., Kane, Robert T. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G. (2021). The relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms: avoidance and activation as mediators. Mindfulness, 12 (7), 1748-1756. doi: 10.1007/s12671-021-01637-1
2021
Journal Article
Fears of compassion magnify the harmful effects of threat of COVID-19 on mental health and social safeness across 21 countries
Matos, Marcela, McEwan, Kirsten, Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Steindl, Stanley R., Ferreira, Nuno, Linharelhos, Mariana, Rijo, Daniel, Asano, Kenichi, Gregório, Sónia, Márquez, Margarita G., Vilas, Sara P., Brito-Pons, Gonzalo, Lucena-Santos, Paola, da Silva Oliveira, Margareth, de Souza, Erika Leonardo, Llobenes, Lorena, Gumiy, Natali, Costa, Maria Ileana, Habib, Noor, Hakem, Reham, Khrad, Hussain, Alzahrani, Ahmad, Cheli, Simone, Petrocchi, Nicola, Tholouli, Elli, Issari, Philia, Simos, Gregoris, Lunding-Gregersen, Vibeke ... Gilbert, Paul (2021). Fears of compassion magnify the harmful effects of threat of COVID-19 on mental health and social safeness across 21 countries. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 28 (6) cpp.2601, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2601
2021
Journal Article
The compassion motivation and action scales: a self-report measure of compassionate and self-compassionate behaviours
Steindl, Stanley R., Tellegen, Cassandra L., Filus, Ania, Seppälä, Emma, Doty, James R. and Kirby, James N. (2021). The compassion motivation and action scales: a self-report measure of compassionate and self-compassionate behaviours. Australian Psychologist, 56 (2), 93-110. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2021.1893110
2021
Journal Article
Compassion mediates poor sleep quality and mental health outcomes
Kim, Jeffrey J., Oldham, Melissa, Fernando, Antonio T. and Kirby, James N. (2021). Compassion mediates poor sleep quality and mental health outcomes. Mindfulness, 12 (5), 1252-1261. doi: 10.1007/s12671-021-01595-8
2021
Book Chapter
Parenting, family environments, and mental health and illness
Kirby, James N. and Tellegen, Cassandra L. (2021). Parenting, family environments, and mental health and illness. Making an impact on mental health: the applications of psychological research. (pp. 71-96) edited by James N. Kirby and Paul Gilbert. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429244551-4
2021
Journal Article
A multilevel multidimensional finite mixture item response model to cluster respondents and countries: the forms of self-criticising/attacking and self-reassuring scale
Kanovský, Martin, Halamová, Júlia, Zuroff, David C., Troop, Nicholas A., Gilbert, Paul, Shahar, Ben, Petrocchi, Nicola, Hermanto, Nicola, Krieger, Tobias, Kirby, James N., Asano, Kenichi, Matos, Marcela, Yu, Fuya, Basran, Jaskaran and Kupeli, Nuriye (2021). A multilevel multidimensional finite mixture item response model to cluster respondents and countries: the forms of self-criticising/attacking and self-reassuring scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 37 (6), 1-12. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000631
2020
Journal Article
Innovation, research integrity, and change: a conflict of interest management framework for program developers
Sanders, Matthew R., Kirby, James N., Toumbourou, John W., Carey, Timothy A. and Havighurst, Sophie S. (2020). Innovation, research integrity, and change: a conflict of interest management framework for program developers. Australian Psychologist, 55 (2) ap.12404, 91-101. doi: 10.1111/ap.12404
2020
Journal Article
Validation of the fears of compassion scale in a Chinese cultural context
Guo, Mingchun, Wang, Jingyun, Day, Jamin and Kirby, James N. (2020). Validation of the fears of compassion scale in a Chinese cultural context. Mindfulness, 12 (3), 683-692. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01534-z
2020
Journal Article
Development and validation of fidelity monitoring and enhancement in an evidence-based parenting program
Sanders, Matthew R., Spry, Carmen S., Tellegen, Cassandra L., Kirby, James N., Metzler, Carol M. and Prinz, Ronald J. (2020). Development and validation of fidelity monitoring and enhancement in an evidence-based parenting program. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 47 (4), 569-580. doi: 10.1007/s11414-020-09713-5
2020
Journal Article
Neural and self-report markers of reassurance: a generalized additive modelling approach
Kim, Jeffrey J., Henderson, Trent, Best, Talitha, Cunnington, Ross and Kirby, James N. (2020). Neural and self-report markers of reassurance: a generalized additive modelling approach. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11 566141, 566141. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.566141
2020
Journal Article
Self-compassion, social rank, and psychological distress in athletes of varying competitive levels
Walton, Courtney C., Baranoff, John, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James (2020). Self-compassion, social rank, and psychological distress in athletes of varying competitive levels. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 50 101733, 101733. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101733
2020
Journal Article
Attachment styles modulate neural markers of threat and imagery when engaging in self-criticism
Kim, Jeffrey J., Kent, Kirsty M., Cunnington, Ross, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Attachment styles modulate neural markers of threat and imagery when engaging in self-criticism. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 13776. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70772-x
2020
Book Chapter
Introduction to psychological impacts on mental health: How psychological science informs how we approach mental health
Kirby, James N. and Gilbert, Paul (2020). Introduction to psychological impacts on mental health: How psychological science informs how we approach mental health. Making an Impact on Mental Health and Illness. (pp. 1-3) New York, NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429244551-1
2020
Book
Making an Impact on Mental Health and Illness : The Applications of Psychological Research
Kirby, James N. and Gilbert, Paul eds. (2020). Making an Impact on Mental Health and Illness : The Applications of Psychological Research. New York, NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429244551
2020
Journal Article
Physiological fractals: visual and statistical evidence across timescales and experimental states
Kim, Jeffrey J., Parker, Stacey, Henderson, Trent and Kirby, James N. (2020). Physiological fractals: visual and statistical evidence across timescales and experimental states. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 17 (167) 20200334, 20200334. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0334
2020
Journal Article
Compassion focused therapy for body weight shame: a mixed methods pilot trial
Carter, Alicia, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Compassion focused therapy for body weight shame: a mixed methods pilot trial. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 28 (1) cpp.2488, 93-108. doi: 10.1002/cpp.2488
2020
Journal Article
Insecure striving, self-criticism, and depression: the prospective moderating role of fear of compassion from others
Hart, Jemma S., Kirby, James N., Steindl, Stanley R., Kane, Robert T. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G. (2020). Insecure striving, self-criticism, and depression: the prospective moderating role of fear of compassion from others. Mindfulness, 11 (7), 1699-1709. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01385-8
2020
Journal Article
Neurophysiological and behavioural markers of compassion
Kim, Jeffrey J., Parker, Stacey L., Doty, James R., Cunnington, Ross, Gilbert, Paul and Kirby, James N. (2020). Neurophysiological and behavioural markers of compassion. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 6789, 6789. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63846-3
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor James Kirby is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Deepening Self-Compassion
This PhD project is aimed at examining novel intervention strategies to deepen self-compassion. The project involves multi-modal approaches, including the use of video-recording, physiology, and self-report measures
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Examining an online Compassion Skills Training intervention
This PhD project will examine a newly created online Compassion Skills Training intervention, which includes six modules. The progam is self-directed and aimed towards populations that have difficulty with self-criticism and shame.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The application of compassion focused therapy principles to alleviate difficulties with emotion regulation in adolescents
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sasha Lynn, Dr Chase Sherwell
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Doctor Philosophy
Assessing prospective memory function in the actual and virtual world.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Julie Henry, Dr Lena Oestreich, Dr Sarah Coundouris, Associate Professor Nell Baghaei
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and Enhancing Doctor, Nurse and Patient Compassion in Healthcare
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Beyond traits: Exploring behavioural dimensions of compassion through the validation and application of the Compassionate Scenario Scale
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chase Sherwell
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Online Compassion-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Children Born Preterm
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
An examination of men's social reactions to disclosures of non-physical intimate partner violence
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow, Professor Barbara Masser
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Doctor Philosophy
NAVIGATEVR. Understanding age-related differences in hazard perception by leveraging insights from the virtual world.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sarah Coundouris, Associate Professor Nell Baghaei, Professor Julie Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of AI-enabled Avatars on Body Ownership within Individualised Virtual Reality for Mental Health
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Julie Henry, Dr Jarrod Knibbe, Associate Professor Nell Baghaei
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Doctor Philosophy
Fostering resilience and personal growth for people with traumatic spinal cord injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Melanie Hoyle, Associate Professor Jacki Liddle
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Doctor Philosophy
Psychological flexibility and coaching in Australian high performance sport
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cliff Mallett
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Social and Affective Impacts of Adult Attachment Style on Sensitivity to Distress and the Experience of Compassion
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jonathan Redshaw, Dr Chase Sherwell
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Compassion Focused Therapy for Body Weight Shame
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stacey Parker
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Neurophysiological Correlates of Compassion
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stacey Parker, Professor Ross Cunnington
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Nurturing ChAMPs: Child and Adolescent mental health and Maternal wellbeing following Preterm birth.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Samudragupta Bora
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Efficacy of Triple P Plus Compassion in Promoting Co-parenting Relationship Between Parents and Grandparents in Vietnam
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Divna Haslam
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The role of antisocial behaviour and group membership on children's imitation across development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Nielsen
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor James Kirby directly for media enquiries about:
- altruism
- compassion
- empathy
- parenting
- self-compassion
- shame
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