Today we’re exploring why challenging thoughts isn’t always helpful, especially for self-critical clients, and what to do instead.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why self-critical clients may struggle to feel reassured, even when they logically recognise helpful thoughts.
- The role of the soothe system and how underdevelopment in this area impacts emotional processing.
- How reflecting emotions creates the safety clients need before exploring their thoughts.
- Practical strategies like reflective bridging and guided discovery to help clients explore their thinking without feeling invalidated or shamed.
Key Takeaways:
- Acknowledge Emotions First: Before challenging thoughts, reflect and validate how your client feels. This builds trust and social safeness.
- Guide, Don’t Push:Use guided discovery to help clients uncover thinking patterns themselves, rather than pointing out cognitive distortions.
- Focus on Feeling, Not Just Logic: Lasting change happens when clients feel a shift, not just understand one.
If this approach resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Send me a message, and if you’re ready to dive deeper into these skills, join the waitlist forEvolve Supervision. Enrolment opens in June/July, and spots are limited.
