As practitioners, we’re wellacquainted with the fight, flight, freeze response – that automatic response that evolved to protect us from external threats or danger.

But what happens when the threat is internal? When the threat is painful emotions or distress?

Our response can still be automatic, and for many clients it can often be to fight.

But when ‘fight’ is how a client handles difficult emotions, the fight moves to within them. It can get expressed as selfcriticism and selfblame – and that can lead to shame.

No longer are they only feeling bad, but they believe they are bad, and something’s wrong with them.

As a practitioner, you know how shame can trap clients in unending pain and suffering.

So what if you could give them a quick and simple practice to start them down the path to healing?

Here Paul Gilbert, PhD shares the practice he uses to help clients understand how the mind works, and how that understanding can be transformative.