My Journey with Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT): A Practitioner’s Reflection (Or: Why I love CFT)

My journey with Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) began when I noticed something striking: many of my clients—through their words or behaviors—were naming shame as a central source of their suffering. Shame is not a small matter; it is one of the most painful emotions humans experience, often linked with self-criticism, isolation, and struggles in relationships (Gilbert, 2010). As someone deeply committed to lifelong learning, I began searching for approaches that could speak directly to this struggle. That search led me to CFT.

A New Take on Exposure Therapy (and Why You Don’t Have to Fear Exposure)

I have feelings when I read or hear misinformation about exposure therapies (often coming from well-meaning but misinformed therapists). This comes from a place of protection and desire for people who are suffering to have access to (and not fear) the very thing that can help them reclaim their lives from the vice grip of fear and anxiety. I have spent over 15 years helping people recover from phobias, obsessions and compulsions, and painful traumatic memories. I have witnessed some of the most incredible healing journeys and transformations, and all of it was made possible by exposure therapies.

When the Fear of Vomiting Takes Over Motherhood: Emetophobia in the Postpartum Period and Beyond

I know, it’s gross. No one is a fan of vomit. But for those living with emetophobia (the intense fear of vomiting), thinking about nausea and vomiting isn’t just gross, it can make it incredibly difficult to live a vital, meaningful life.