Blog
Clinical tools, research updates and reflections on shame, self-criticism and compassion — 113 posts since 2014.
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Finding Compassion in Nature
When I was little, there was a tree in the backyard of my family’s home. It had three knots in the perfect eyes and nose configuration and a groove in just the right place for a mouth. It…
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Crazy Monkey Mind
Do you have any clients coming to see you because their minds tend to run away with them? Or rather, because your client tends to run away with their mind? The mind says, "You are doing…
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Feeling the impact of self-criticism
People who are chronically self-critical often become numb to the effects of their self-criticism. Through closely attending to the emotional reaction to self-criticism, people can begin to…
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Healing Betrayal Trauma with Compassion
The Compassionate Mind Foundation listserv discussed the issue of working compassionately with a client experiencing feelings of betrayal, anger, and shame in her relationship with her…
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January 2015 Compassion Tool of the Month: Measuring Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance
Each month we highlight some practical resources for therapists interested in compassion. We don’t go into great depth about what we find, but encourage you to check them out if you think…
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January 2015 Research Update
Every month, we scour the scientific literature for interesting studies that have practical implications for therapists working with shame, self-criticism, or compassion. Below are a few of…
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Self-Critic Job Description Exercise
Here is an idea for an exercise to help clients defuse from their self-critic. This exercise could also help to assess the workability of listening to the critic. What is the fundamental…
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Compassion in Psychotherapy Research Update: December 2014
Every month, we scour the scientific literature for interesting studies that have practical implications for therapists working with shame, self-criticism, or compassion. Below are a few of…
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Eyes On Compassion
At a meeting of our ACT peer consultation group, a group member, Yael Schweitzer, led an exercise that fostered feelings of both discomfort and connection in group members. Although it…
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The role of self-talk in ACT with compassion
One of our readers (who chose to remain anonymous but agreed to let me post this) asked a great question about ACT and compassion interventions. I wanted to share my response publicly so…