In this episode, Wendy talks about Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), which was started by Professor Paul Gilbert OBE. He identified the three levels of emotional systems that play a role in how we feel and, therefore, act. All three of these can be dialled up and down to help us remain emotionally balanced.

Today, Wendy introduces the concept, explains how it works and tells us what each of the Threes Circles of Compassion is and how they impact the way we feel and behave. In later episodes, she will explain how you can use the CFT approach to understand each emotional driver and use that knowledge to feel much better.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Self-compassion is taking care of ourselves, especially when we are suffering.
• We need to be kind and gentle with ourselves.
• Self-compassion enables us to find the courage to deal with and face things rather than back away, which happens when we feel under threat.
• Paul Gilbert´s system defines 3 levels of emotional regulation – the Three Circles of Compassion which are coloured red, blue and green.
• In some people the compassionate, self-soothing system is underdeveloped. But it can be made stronger.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Self-compassion can help us with recovery and building self-resilience. ´

‘We may not realize it, but many of us spend the majority of our time in the red system, the threat system.’

‘We are biologically designed to be nurturing.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gilbert_(psychologist)

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.wendycastelino.com

https://www.instagram.com/wendycastelino/

https://www.youtube.com/@wendycastelino798

https://twitter.com/WendyCastelino

ABOUT THE HOST

Wendy Castelino has been working as a psychotherapist for over thirty-five years. As an accredited CBT and EMDR practitioner, she is committed to upholding the rigorous standards required for these accreditations and helping thousands of people reach their full potential.

Wendy currently runs a private practice where her focus is on CBT. Therapy is constantly evolving into developing new techniques, so she studies hard to integrate them into her therapy, to provide a rich and effective experience.

Wendy is aware that working in one-to-one therapy limits the number of people she can see. She has, therefore, created a range of online resources. These resources are designed to be easy to follow and provide clear, step-by-step instructions. This can help the individual to master skills and gain confidence, therefore optimising the therapy sessions. They are also suitable to be used on their own.

Further details are available at: WendyCastelino.com.

Podcast Description

Welcome to "Don't Get a Therapist - Yet!" Wendy Castelino, a psychotherapist with over 35 years of experience, aims to support individuals with mental health challenges to achieve their full potential. Although Wendy is passionate about providing individual therapy, there are limitations with this approach. This platform, therefore, is dedicated to offering self-help strategies which are designed to enhance personal well-being. The objective is not to discourage people from accessing therapy but to motivate a broader audience to explore therapeutic resources that are simple and effective to use.

This podcast aims to encourage people to make positive choices about therapy and to find a therapy that suits their individual needs. Additionally, the podcast features interviews with individuals who have successfully overcome mental health struggles