If you’ve ever been in therapy, you’ve likely heard the term self-compassion. Self-compassion in simple terms means kindness to yourself. It might look like forgiving yourself for your mistakes or going easy on yourself about your imperfections. Often, in an effort to help clients find compassion for themselves, I ask, “What would you say to a friend in your situation?” knowing that we are almost always kinder to others than we are to ourselves. For some, this gentle reminder is enough to change the pattern of harshness, but for those with a long history of self-deprecation, the prospect of treating yourself the way you would treat a loved one might not seem doable.

Coping StrategiesErinn WilliamsJuly 7, 2020Elevated Life Counselingself-compassion, self-care, IFS, Internal Family Systems, Inner Critic, Inner Affirmer, anxiety, perfectionist, depression, Eating Disorder, parts work, elevated life counseling, ELC, counseling, therapy