The Compassionate Companion Meditation: Compassion Focused Therapy (10 minutes)

In this exercise we are using our imagination to train our soothing system. We are going to try to create a compassionate companion in our mind – a person, animal or thing (i.e. tree) that could give you the feeling of safeness and calmness. In this space there is potential for recovery and growth as the soothing system is activated.

If may be difficult to imagine a situation with a caring other when we received little or no loving care from our parents or when a loved one was abusive. if this is the case then the exercise ‘The Safe Place’ or ‘The Breathing Space with Kindness’ may be a more suitable starting point because it does not involve others.

🔵 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

☐ The Compassionate Mind Workbook by Chris Irons and Elaine Beaumont.

🔵 WHAT IS COMPASSION?

Compassion is the capacity to be sensitive to the suffering of ourselves and others and the willingness to relieve and prevent it. It is a capacity inherent in all of us which for many reasons does not always come to flourish. Fortunately, it can be trained, developed and deepened through practice. Compassion is characterised by kindness and receptivity as well as courage and responsibility. Many believe compassion should be directed towards others rather than ourselves. But self-compassion is not a selfish activity. Research increasingly shows that self-compassion is, like mindfulness, key to mental health and goes hand in hand with greater openness and empathy towards others.

🔵 ABOUT TERESA LEWIS

Teresa Lewis is the founder and Director of Lewis Psychology and a Senior Accredited psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Snr. Accred). Qualified in 1995, Teresa has been providing counselling and psychotherapy treatment for nearly 30 years. Teresa holds a masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy and is a qualified EMDR Practitioner having completed training accredited with EMDR Europe. Teresa is also a qualified adult educator and an accredited Mindfulness teacher As a recognised expert in her field Teresa is frequently asked to conduct editorial reviews and endorse counselling and psychotherapy books for international publishing houses.

🔵 WORK WITH ME

If you'd like to work with me, or a member of the Lewis Psychology team, please click on the links below:

[LewisPsychology]

How are you? Tell me how you feel after watching this video. I'd love to hear from you.

[gerrimiller]

I imagine my compassionate companion & i snuggled up having deep meaningful conversations. This meditation really opens my heart up to know that i am worthy and deserving to receive a good partner

[katiewilliams]

thank you so much. my therapist talked me through this exercise yesterday but i was struggling to recreate it without guidance. thank you <3

[debbieschmidt]

Yes, I am starting CPTSD therapy. My therapist read this meditation to be a couple days ago and I recorded it (she recommended) and this added video for my meditation helps, also to have it in another voice helps as well! Thanks!

[s.gideon]

Oh wow, I've never done this one before. I stumbled onto your page looking for a "safe place" meditation (and love your version btw), and decided to try this one too and it's really helpful! 💕