Mapping Out the Relationship Between Self-Hatred & Trauma
- Understand core elements of relationship with self
- Impact of trauma on sense of self and self-worth
- Notice subtle Indicators of shame
- Explore the limits of traditional approaches
- Research, risks, limitations, ethical considerations
- Cultural considerations
- Overview of 4 self-compassion approaches to therapy
Self-Compassion Practices for Shame, Interpersonal Struggles & More
- Explroe Dr. Neff’s three components of self-compassion
- Mindfulness as “contact with the present moment”
- Exercise: Grounding practice for working through shame storms
- Common humanity as a relational intervention
- Exercise: Loving Kindness Meditation to Broaden Compassion to Include Self and Others
- Enhance self-kindness and inner talk
- Exercise: Compassionate Friend Practice for a More Accepting Relationship with Self
- Other practical strategies to use with any client
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) Skills Training, Visualization, Attention Practices & More
- Know the three systems: Threat, Drive, Social-Affiliative
- Exploration of the threat system and neurobiology
- What to do when the threat system is in overdrive
- Compassionate interventions for a healthy drive system
- How to work with motivation, perfectionism, and controlling drives
- Treat procrastination, overwhelm, or a shutdown drive system
- When the threat system overpowers the drive system
- Skills training to ignite compassion and the social-affiliative system
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Interventions for Self-Criticism, Shame, Self-Forgiveness & More
- Review of ACT’s 6 dimensions, psychological flexibility, and more
- Values-center
- Clarify values related to self
- Know the common client hang-ups and work arounds
- Defusion
- Holding painful stories lightly and working with:
- The “I Don’t Deserve Healing” Story
- The “I Am Not Good Enough” Story
- The “Self-Criticism is Responsible for my Success” Story
- The “I Hate Myself” Story
- Experiential Acceptance
- Address shame and other emotions
- Encourage self-acceptance
- Explore self-forgiveness
- Self-as-Context
- Rewrite the narrative
- Let go of the narrative
- Contact with the present moment
- Engage mindfulness and self-compassion
- Create Committed Action
- Guide compassion behavior
- Let go of self-destruction
Working with Special Populations
- Complex Trauma
- Neurodivergent clients
- Anxiety
- Mood Disorders
- Psychosis


