A Compassionate Approach to Therapy.
What is Compassion Focused Therapy?
CFT is an evidence-based model that combines evolutionary psychology, neurobiology, attachment theory and mindfulness. The practice of CFT involves turning towards the suffering we experience, with support, to build compassionate relationships (with ourselves and others), tune into our innate courage, strength and wisdom and bring awareness to the function of self-criticism and shame, so that we can transform our inner landscapes.
The relationship we have with ourselves is the most enduring and influential of our lifetime. Yet, for many of us this relationship is defined by inner conflict, criticism and shame. CFT teaches that it is not our fault that we suffer. As humans we have ‘Tricky Brains’, designed for survival through evolution and other factors outside of our control.
As well as biological influences, we are also shaped by our environments, relationships and experiences. Our early experiences are a significant factor in both how our inner lives develop and how we perceive the outside world. When growing up in difficult or harmful circumstances, such as environments without safe enough relationships or enough resources to meet our basic physical and emotional needs or if criticism overshadows support, we develop strategies to survive rather than thrive. When we are busy trying to avoid harm, criticism or shame to get by, it is really difficult to develop a positive and nurturing self-relationship and to trust others.
In learning to relate to ourselves and others with compassion we start to be able to turn toward, rather than away from, our experiences of suffering so that we can begin to dismantle the barriers of shame and self-judgment, paving the way for a kinder, more supportive way of being.
The foundations of CFT can help foster feelings of empowerment and encourage befriending of the alienated parts of ourselves pushed away or suppressed by a need to survive adversity. I was first drawn to CFT, and have continued to work in this way, because it offers hope for change without shaming our very understandable responses. In adopting a Compassion-Focused Therapy approach it is possible to feel less alone as we begin to connect to our shared humanity, to our own strength, courage and wisdom and to support change and balance through embodying compassionate practices.
What is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a mode of somatic (body) therapy used for working with trauma and attachment issues. It is a common experience for trauma survivors to experience a disconnection from their body. Using SP, we can work gently and with curiosity to increase awareness and utilise the body as a resource to feel better. This doesn’t involve touch with the therapist, it is about increasing mindful awareness of your body in a way that feels safer.
A guiding principle of SP is for everything to be done in collaboration. An important benefit of SP is it combines the somatic, emotional and cognitive aspects of trauma and healing, so that processing of difficult or traumatic events does not rely on telling the ‘story’ of what happened. We can use the wisdom of your nervous system as useful communication, both in how you have been affected by trauma and to support the reorganisation of how this is held in your whole system.
As I am trained in different modalities of therapy used for working with trauma, together we can figure out the most helpful approaches to getting to where you want to be. In therapy with me, it’s not about you fitting a model, but rather integrating approaches in ways that meet you where you’re at and support you.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a therapy approach that helps people process and heal from trauma. It can help with reducing symptons of PTSD and other trauma-related conditions by helping your brain to reprocess and integrate trauamatic experiences in a new way.
EMDR therapy uses guided eye movements or other forms of stiumation such as tapping, to process difficult memories from your past, to reduce the impact they have on you today as part of your healing process.
My rates
Therapy
Online or in-person in Plymouth, UK.
60 mins | £80 | Get in touch
I work with clients with different currencies, please get in touch for more info. Reports and letters can be written if required and are charged as time spent based on my hourly rate.
“There was always a sense of being welcomed as I was, and the sense of being in a very safe space when speaking.”
— ANONYMOUS, Compassionate Space client