For some clients, their go-to response to hurt or disappointment may be to find something (or more often someone) to blame it on. And when that blame is accompanied by anger and harsh criticism, it can wreak havoc on their relationships. So how can we help clients begin to manage distressing emotions, instead of jumping […]
Tara Brach, PhD, and How to Work with Chronic Self-Judgement
What would you say to a client who feels as if they’ve wasted years of their life trapped in a cycle of harsh self-judgement? You see, feeling like you’re “never enough” is very common. According to Tara Brach, PhD, this sense of inadequacy leads to some of the most pervasive suffering in our culture. In […]
A Compassion-Focused Approach to Self-Critical, Negative Thoughts
For some clients, not an hour goes by without an intrusive thought from their “inner critic” . . . . . . and the shame, blame, and fear that it stirs up can be paralyzing. So how can we help clients who struggle to keep these unwelcome thoughts in check? Well, Dennis Tirch, PhD, has a […]
The Neuroscience of Mindfulness and Fear
When a client is afraid, there’s a practice that can help them stay grounded in the present . . . . . . instead of getting hijacked by panic and “worst-case scenario” thinking. And that practice is mindfulness. In the video below, Tara Brach, PhD will get into how mindfulness disrupts the neurobiology of fear, […]
A Story for Clients Stuck in Worry and “What Ifs”
There are times when a client can get stuck in “what if” scenarios and worry about the future. And when that happens, it stifles their ability to think clearly and approach their problems with wisdom and creativity. But there’s a very succinct, engaging story that’s popular in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) that can help clients see […]