Generating Self-Compassion in Emotion-Focused Therapy

Emotional pain experienced by a client, whether it is loneliness, sadness, shame and fear, for example, are responses to an injury that prevents or violates the fulfillment of the basic human need to be loved, feel safe, and be acknowledged.

Dr. Ladisav Timulak presents his therapeutic approach as a treatment designed to emphasize the importance of attending to distress rather than avoiding or suppressing it. The approach focuses on helping the client to stay with, rather than avoid, their painful emotional experiences. Identifying the triggers of difficult emotional experiences, identifying the unmet or violated needs that are connected to such emotional experiences, and responding to such underlying needs, are equally emphasized throughout the therapy in order to transform the pain.

In this video program, Dr. Timulak guides his client towards self-compassion, while encouraging the development of healthy grieving, empowerment and inner resilience.