Trauma can rip away a client’s sense of safety . . . . . . and leave them with a nervous system that is primed to detect threats. That’s why as practitioners, it’s so important that we have strategies to build a client’s feelings of safety before we help them process traumatic memories. So in […]
An Exercise to Challenge Self-Doubt
When a client suffers from impostor syndrome, they can get locked in a cycle of questioning their abilities and downplaying their achievements. And instead of recognizing their success and building confidence to pursue their goals, they may shy away from opportunities and live in fear of being “found out.” So in the video below, Kelly […]
When Political Differences Hurt Relationships – an Exercise for Your Clients
You might have a client who keeps getting caught up in anger or fear about people on the “other side” . . . . . . especially coming out of a very tense and politically divided year. But Dennis Tirch, PhD has an exercise to help clients soothe their emotional distress and cultivate compassion – […]
A Compassion-Based Approach to Foster Change
Even when a client is making progress, self-blame, shame, and self-criticism can hold them back from reaching their goals. But according to Dennis Tirch, PhD there is a compassion-based strategy that can help clients keep moving forward, even during difficult emotions or circumstances. It’s a metaphor that he adapted from ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). […]
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 […]