Headway Mental Health’s Compassion Focused Therapists in Rosedale Toronto, include practical tools that make kindness a habit:
Each session introduces small but powerful shifts in how you react to emotions. Over time, those shifts add up to real change.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is a form of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Paul Gilbert that aims to help individuals who struggle with feelings of shame and self-criticism. It integrates techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with concepts from evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhist psychology. The core idea behind CFT is to use compassionate mind training to help people develop self-compassion and compassion for others, which can lead to feelings of safety, self-acceptance, and comfort.
CFT involves teaching clients about the evolution of the brain and emotion regulation systems, and helping them cultivate skills such as mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion for others through guided exercises, visualization, and meditation. This approach is particularly beneficial for individuals with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, and other emotional challenges. By fostering a compassionate mindset, CFT aims to alleviate suffering and improve emotional well-being.
Struggling with emotions that feel overwhelming or misunderstood can be exhausting. Every session is a safe space where thoughts and feelings are heard kindly, never dismissed or judged.
Feeling anxious about miscommunication or making mistakes can prevent you from moving forward. Every conversation allows you to express yourself freely without fear of being criticized or silenced.
Feeling pressured to heal quickly can add to the stress. Progress happens at your pace, with steady support that respects every small step toward feeling lighter and more in control.
Yes. It helps replace harsh self-judgment with understanding so you don't feel stuck in negative thoughts.
No. Self-kindness actually boosts motivation by reducing fear of failure and helping you move forward without pressure.
That's normal. Many people struggle with this at first, but my therapy introduces simple techniques that make it easier over time.