Our thoughts significantly impact our emotions and actions, and when life is complex, and we become anxious, depressed, and stressed, our thinking becomes increasingly hostile. This creates a cycle of negative thoughts, feelings, and unhelpful behaviours. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to improve our quality of life by identifying unhelpful thoughts, analyzing them for validity, and ultimately, transforming them to be more realistic and less saturated with the influence of our daily struggles. This is what therapists term “cognitive restructuring.”

When our negative thinking becomes restructured, our emotions are more positive and not overshadowed by our thoughts; in turn, our behaviours become more aligned with our goals. Cognitive restructuring has been extensively researched and has been shown to have a significant impact on one’s well-being; however, shame, guilt, and self-criticism – all of which can have been developed through negative life experiences, especially trauma, can, at times, interfere with acceptance of more positive thoughts and leave us stuck in a negative thinking trap.

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is beneficial, as it assists in developing emotional safety, self-acceptance, and comfort with ourselves. CFT specializes in diminishing the self-criticism and fostering a wiser self that wants to encourage your growth. At The Resiliency Effect, CFT is easily interweaved into CBT for a holistic approach to wellness.

Mindfulness is the cornerstone of CFT and at The Resiliency Effect is a powerful integration into CBT. In CBT mindfulness techniques are taught to help the client learn metacognition and become in control of their thinking, physical symptoms, and emotions. In CFT mindfulness is gentle and is used to build self-compassion and a sense of safety. For Trauma survivors intense mindfulness, is used to process unresolved emotional and physical pain at the neurological level.

Uniting these therapy approaches creates a powerful impact and positive changes to one’s well-being cognitively, physically, emotionally, and neurologically. This integrative approach provides you with a holistic treatment plan.