COMPASS
The most recent (29 August 2025) Academic Insight report, produced by Mark Durkin, summarises the COMPASS model which integrates key findings and principles from compassion-focused therapy, positive psychology and desistance theory/capital to provide a holistic and person-centred framework for understanding and supporting people on probation.
The model
Through its focus on past experiences, present needs, and future aspirations, the model is designed to enhance desistance opportunities and boost wellbeing, offering an effective and balanced pathway to lasting change and growth. It not only addresses the underlying causes of offending but seeks to foster hope, motivation, and the skills necessary for a pro-social life. Crucially, the model provides a shared language and clear structure for practitioners, services, and policymakers to work collaboratively, recognising that lasting change happens through the alignment of people, systems, and opportunities.
The COMPASS model is a practical and theoretical framework for justice practitioners, designed to support desistance. It stands for:
- COMpassionate
- Positive
- Applied
- Strengths-based
- Solutions.
The model blends ) compassion-focused therapy (CMT)/compassion mind training (CMT) with positive psychology, desistance theory & capital, and strengths-based approaches. The model emphasises addressing past experiences (in some cases including what can be considered risk factors) and pro-social needs across key areas of desistance capital through tailored interventions that lead to understanding and motivation for change.
As set out in the infographic reproduced below, the COMPASS model not only guides individuals through their past and present desistance journey, but also helps practitioners tailor interventions that align with the person’s unique future needs and goals.
Cardinal direction points
The COMPASS model uses the following cardinal direction points to map the desistance journey, linking past, present and future to key psychological interventions:
- South (S) – the past: focuses on the person’s history, including past trauma, ACEs, risks, and life experiences that have shaped their current identify, thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It can include aspects of a person’s life that they feel has held them back. For example, beliefs about their abilities, or value and place in the world.
- South-East (SE) – past compassion: identifies moments when compassion was given, received, or possible – helping the individual build empathy and self-understanding for what has happened to them, their life experiences, and what they have been through to get where they are.
- South-West (SW) – past positive psychology: focuses on instances of hope, optimism, strengths, or resilience that can be highlighted and strengthened to support change. Self-forgiveness, and forgiving others for past transgressions can be explored.
- North (N) – the future: helps individuals recognise the importance of goals for desistance. It covers how to define meaningful, pro-social goals and aspirations, wants and needs for a transformative future. Reimagining a different future is highlighted at this COMPASS point.
- North-East (NE) – future compassion: supports the development of a compassionate future self, focusing on relationships, values, behaviour, and emotional needs. Imagining what a compassionate self would look like can be explored.
- North – West (NW) – future positive psychology: encourages the creation of a hopeful, strengths-based future, grounded in strengths application, wellbeing, a growth mindset, and self-belief.
- East (E) – compassion skills: introduces awareness of concepts of tricky brains, the drive, threat and soothing systems, social rank theory, and competitiveness. Includes the practical skills of compassion, including empathy, distress tolerance, self-kindness and emotional regulation that can be learned to aid desistance.
- West (W) – positive psychology skills: symbolises tools and techniques that promote behaviour change and wellbeing, e.g. self-determination theory, gratitude, recognising, and strength building.
As also set out in the infographic, at the heart of the COMPASS model are four central rings, encompassing the four interrelated types of desistance-focused capital – the ‘what’ of change that supports a sustainable journey away from offending. These core domains are the four main kinds of desistance capital that many readers will be familiar with. and can be used to:
- assess which types of capital are present or missing/needed
- identify what is supporting desistance and what is maintaining persistence/resistance
- co-create interventions that strengthen each area through compassionate, strengths based, and positive psychological approaches
- help the individual build a wider, more stable foundation for growth and change – one that is supported not just by themselves, but by practitioners, other agencies, families, and communities working together.
Again, these are neatly summarised in an infographic, reproduced below.
Conclusion
I am particularly heartened to see this model presented as it seems to go to the heart of what I have always understood to the point of probation work. Robin Moore in his foreword summarises more elegantly than I could:
“At its core, the COMPASS model reminds us that transformation is possible when we lead with compassion, build relationships and social bonds, empower strengths and abilities, and walk alongside people on their individual journeys.”
