Self-Criticism’s Hidden Role And Why Compassion Matters | Mary Welford

Join me on Compassion in a T-Shirt as I sit down with clinical psychologist, author, and CFT pioneer Dr Mary Welford for a rich and surprising conversation about self-criticism — what it is, why we do it, and the unexpected functions it serves.Mary reflects on her early journey into Compassion Focused Therapy, including the profound influence of Professor Paul Gilbert’s work on shame and self-criticism, and her experiences during the formative years of the Compassionate Mind Foundation. We explore the challenges she faced in clinical practice, the breakthroughs that shaped her approach, and how CFT evolved into what it is today.In this episode, Mary also shares practical, compassionate ways to work with the inner critic, insights from working with diverse populations — from young people to elite athletes — and the small, grounded practices that sustain her in daily life. Whether you're a therapist, a student, or simply someone trying to soften the harshness within, this conversation offers warmth, wisdom, and plenty to take away.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Self-Criticism00:26 Meet Dr Mary Welford01:42 Early Encounters with CFT02:27 Challenges in Clinical Practice06:13 Discovering Compassion-Focused Therapy09:23 The Impact of CFT on Clinical Work21:00 Personal Reflections on Self-Criticism29:29 The Role of Compassion in Therapy35:06 Exploring Self-Criticism and Shame35:32 Personal Reflections on Shame and Social Performance38:28 Changing Relationship with Self-Criticism40:05 Working with Elite Athletes42:58 Coaching and Self-Criticism in Sports45:36 Psychological Flexibility and Self-Compassion53:34 Personal Practices for Compassion01:03:37 Future Projects and Personal BalanceIf you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/ Say hi on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/ Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/ YouTube Video URL: [link] *Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support! Video hashtags:compassionfocusedtherapy, selfcriticism, compassiontraining, marywelford, psychologytalks, compassioninatshirt