Compassion Focused Therapy for Individuals in Toronto, Ontario

Do you feel like you can be your own bully at times? Or that your inner critic is the loudest, most dominating voice in your head? There’s often a push to treat other people in our lives with understanding and compassion (which is important, of course!) But what about the way we treat ourselves?

Signs That You May Benefit From Cultivating Self-Compassion:

  • You experience constant negative self-talk, especially when you make mistakes

  • You harbour excessive self-doubt

  • You tend to hyper-focus on your perceived flaws

  • You persistently tell yourself that you shouldn’t be feeling a certain way

  • You tend to deny or minimize your own suffering or struggles

  • You have a hard time connecting and identifying your emotions

  • You find it difficult to feel present in the moment

If this sounds like you, it might be time to start connecting with your compassionate self. Even though it might feel like it, you don’t have to accept your dominating inner critic as the status quo. Working with a compassion-focused therapist in Toronto, ON can help you take a more mindful and understanding approach to yourself and your life overall.  

A woman standing holding a green mug. With CFT therapy in Toronto, ON, you can gain self confidence & self compassion. Learn more from a CFT Therapist here.

CFT Therapy in Toronto, ON Can Help You Increase Self-Confidence and Overall Life Satisfaction

Compassion-focused therapy is a therapeutic approach developed by psychologist Paul Gilbert. This approach focuses on fostering compassion towards oneself and others to improve mental well-being. CFT uses elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Evolutionary Psychology. It also uses elements of Mindfulness to help clients achieve self-compassionate thinking. According to Kristin Neff’s (Ph.D.) research in mindful self-compassion, people who learned to be more self-compassionate were also able to feel more compassionate towards other people. This led to feeling more connected socially and increasing their overall life satisfaction.

A young man smiling at his phone. By talking to a CFT therapist in Toronto, ON, you can work on building self confidence. Contact me today to begin compassion focused therapy.

  • Decrease in depressive symptoms

Other Benefits of Building Self-Compassion with the Help of a CFT Therapist Can Include:

A flower & sunset. Did you know compassion focused therapy in Toronto, ON can help with gaining self confidence? Learn more from a CFT therapist here.

Get Started With CFT Therapy in Toronto, ON Today!

Are you curious about your inner critic? Are you looking to invest in your relationship with yourself and begin managing self-criticism more effectively? Are you excited to cultivate both self-compassion and compassion towards others? Start your CFT Therapy journey today by following these few steps:

  1. Contact me so we can get to know you better.

  2. Meet a caring and experienced CFT therapist.

  3. Flourish through life using compassion-focused techniques.

Other Services I Offer as a CFT Therapist in Toronto, ON

At Michelle Kent Counselling and Psychotherapy, I offer comprehensive counselling services to meet your diverse needs and support your personal growth and well-being. A dedicated CFT therapist is here to provide you with expert guidance and a safe space to navigate life's challenges. Explore our additional counselling services in caregiver stress counselling, stress management counselling, first responder counselling, and many more.

MK Counselling & Psychotherapy Can Help:

I understand what it’s like to feel like your own worst enemy. I also know that being self-critical can feel like the most realistic coping strategy to survive in tough times.  This is especially true if you feel like self-compassion equates to self-pity or even weakness. But I assure you that developing your compassionate mind is a courageous act that can bring momentum and personal growth to your life.

MK Counselling & Psychotherapy’s Approach to Building Self-Compassion:

I am passionate about using Compassion Focused Therapy because it emphasizes collaboration in the therapeutic relationship. It also prioritizes your expertise as the client. For example, when you begin to challenge your normal coping strategies (ie. you begin addressing your inner critic), you can actually feel quite vulnerable or even unsafe. This is why exploring self-criticism and building self-compassion must be at a pace that’s comfortable for you. By working with MK Counselling & Psychotherapy, I will get to know your inner critic with curiosity and non-judgment. Then, we can deep dive into self-compassionate exercises and practices. We need to get to know the role your inner critic plays, where it comes from, and what it might need from you.