Memory of Feeling Cared For - Guided Compassion Focused Therapy exercise #LewisPsychology

This is a guided Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) exercise developed by Paul Gilbert. Paul Gilbert is the founder of Compassion Focused Therapy.

In this exercise you will use memory to recall a time when you experienced receiving care, support, and kindness from another person, which resulted in you feeling safe, calm and content. The key thing during this practice is to try to build it around a memory of a time when you were not struggling too much or were overly distressed, as this would likely stimulate your threat system and change the nature and function of this exercise.

Whilst many find this exercise helpful, sometimes if can trigger feelings of sadness or grief (related to the death of a loved on or not having those types of experiences in life anymore). It can be helpful to understand such feelings as linked to the activation of the threat system, and therefore an opportunity to engage with some of the other CFT skills (e.g. soothing rhythm breathing or the safe place). If it feels okay you may want to practice this exercise again and bring a different memory to mind and see how that feels.

🔵 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

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

🔵 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

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[LewisPsychology]

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

[gerrimiller]

I remember someone special holding my hand and that made me feel warm, safe and loved❤ the best feeling ever.