Compassion-Focused Therapy
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Building a kinder and more trusting relationship with yourself
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based approach that is deeply relational and offers a gentle and profound way to build a relationship with your mind. It supports you to understand your relationship with yourself and how to cultivate a more understanding, supportive internal voice.
The Intention of Compassion -Focused Therapy
The intention of CFT is to support you to build a kinder, more emotionally balanced relationship with yourself, especially in moments of difficulty, shame, or self-judgment. It is a relational approach that works with the emotional systems in your brain to create more safety, steadiness, and inner support.
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Many people operate with an overactive threat and drive system — the parts of the brain wired to avoid danger and strive for success. While these systems are protective, when they are over-active they can lead to patterns like:
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Overthinking, people-pleasing, or fearing rejection
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Feeling anxious, on edge, or ashamed
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Pushing yourself to exhaustion without feeling fulfilled
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Struggling to rest or slow down without guilt
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Hearing a constant inner critic telling you it’s never enough
CFT introduces a third system 'The Compassion System' which helps you feel safe, soothed, and emotionally held. For many, this system was never fully nurtured due to environments where emotional warmth, care, or safety weren’t consistently available.
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The goal of CFT is to understand the parts of you that are afraid, driven, or critical and bring balance to your inner world, so you’re not just surviving, but feeling more steady, supported, and grounded in how you relate to yourself and others.
How Compassion-Focused Therapy can support you
In our sessions, we focus on strengthening your compassion system to feel more confident, regulated and emotionally resilient. Together, we work to:
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Explore the patterns that keep you stuck in self-blame or overwhelm, and uncover their emotional roots
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Understand what blocks self-compassion — such as fear, shame, or a protective inner critic
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Develop a gentler inner voice, so you can begin to support yourself in moments of stress or struggle
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Build emotional tools that help you respond to pain with warmth and care, instead of judgment or avoidance
CFT supports you to feel less overwhelmed by shame, anxiety, or self-judgment, and respond to life’s challenges with confidence and kindness. Through this work, you can build a more balanced, caring relationship with yourself. As your self-compassion grows, your ability to hold space for your emotions, and all parts of yourself, does too.
Compassion is turning towards all parts of you with curiosity, warmth and understanding.
Who Might Find Compassion-Focused Therapy Helpful
CFT may be supportive if you...
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Struggle with self-criticism, shame, or feeling “never good enough”
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Often compare yourself to others, leaving you feeling behind, not enough or like something is missing
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You want to develop a more grounded relationship with yourself instead of one driven by judgement, pressure or perfection​​​
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Find it difficult to receive kindness and care from others even when a part of you may long for it
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Desire the inner tools to support yourself during moments of overwhelm, anxiety or guilt
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Want to respond to challenges with emotional steadiness, not spirals of shame or self-doubt
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Push yourself to perfection but still feel anxious or unfulfilled