Mindfulness & Self Compassion Therapy
Mindfulness & Self Compassion therapy is practiced in Kitchener-Waterloo, Milton, Oakville, London and the surrounding areas. Anchoridge Counselling takes pride in the therapy practice offered to help clients with individual needs.
Many people find it easy to show compassion for others but much harder to show compassion for themselves. Being hard on yourself, including negative self-talk, self-shame, and blame, can have a significant negative impact on mental wellness and self-esteem.
Self-compassion means being able to comfort and soothe yourself, and motivate yourself with self-encouragement, much like you would to a friend or family member who is having a hard time.
Mindfulness requires paying attention to an experience or emotion, without judgement, just a gentle noticing and with curiosity, wondering where it may have come from.
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion as a Therapy Modality
Mindfulness and self compassion means combining the skills of mindfulness (being present and self aware) with the emotional practice of self-compassion, in order to improve self awareness, self esteem, resiliency and mental wellness.
These practices allows us to increase our sense of self-awareness, creating a greater connection with our bodies and emotions, which allows for insights into habits and patterns and how to break old habits and behaviours and replace them with new, more helpful ones. This can even include promoting healthy choices.
​
Mindfulness and self compassion practices have been proven to help reduce anxiety and manage depression and also helps to improve interpersonal relationships.
What happens in a counselling sessions focused on mindfulness and self compassion?​
A therapist may use practices such as the S.A.F.E technique, for cultivating self-compassion, first introduced by Goldstein (2015) which includes:
​
1. Soften: Ease into the emotion. Take a deep breath and recognize its presence. What emotion are you feeling? Where is its strongest presence within your body?
​
2. Allow: Give the emotion permission to exist as it is. Inhale and exhale, acknowledging the emotion without resistance or attachment. Simply allow it to be present.
​
3. Feel: Attend to the emotion with kindness and discover your needs. Investigate the feeling. How does it shape your self-image? What is this emotion telling you at this moment?
​
4. Expand: Extend your consciousness to include all individuals who experience such emotions. Every human being makes mistakes and experiences suffering. Your experience is not unique to you. Deeply take in this notion and embrace it.
.jpg)
Why Choose This Approach?
1. Reduces Harsh Self-Criticism: Self-compassion practices teach clients to respond to challenges and setbacks with understanding rather than judgment.
2. Builds Emotional Resilience: Mindfulness helps individuals stay grounded and regulated during distressing experiences, improving overall coping skills.
3. Improves Mental Health: Research shows benefits for depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma-related symptoms.
4. Enhances Self-Awareness: Clients become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and body sensations, leading to greater clarity and intentionality in daily life.
5. Supports Long-Term Wellbeing: This approach fosters sustainable emotional regulation, self-kindness, and greater inner peace.
Benefits of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in Therapy
- 1. Less Self-Criticism, More Self-Kindness
Learn how to quiet the inner critic and respond to yourself with patience and care, even during difficult moments.
2. Greater Emotional Resilience
Feel more equipped to handle life’s ups and downs without becoming overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or guilt.
3. Improved Mental Health
This approach has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma while improving overall emotional well-being.
4. Better Stress Management
Mindfulness helps you stay present, grounded, and calm—even in high-pressure situations.
5. Stronger Sense of Self-Worth
Self-compassion encourages a more accepting and nurturing view of yourself, which can boost self-esteem and confidence.
6. Healthier Relationships
When you're kinder to yourself, it often becomes easier to relate to others with empathy, patience, and understanding.
7. Improved Focus and Clarity
Mindfulness enhances awareness and attention, helping you feel more in control of your thoughts and actions.
Mindfulness and Compassion Therapy fosters self-awareness and kindness—guiding you to embrace the present moment with acceptance, understanding, and self-compassion.
Many of our clinicians incorporate this therapy approach in their practice. A few are listed below, but to explore more options and find your best match, we recommend booking a free 15-minute intake consultation.
Available Counsellors
