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Silencing the inner critic (addressing the inner critic)
The challenge: Addressing the inner critic in clients
For many clients, the inner critic is a relentless inner voice that undermines confidence, perpetuates self-doubt, and impedes progress. Often rooted in early experiences and societal pressures, this internal dialogue can manifest as:
- Self-critical thoughts: “I’ll never be good enough.”
- Perfectionism: “If it isn’t perfect, I’ve failed.”
- Imposter syndrome: “They’ll figure out I don’t belong here.”
This internal dialogue often stops clients from achieving their goals, asserting boundaries, or embracing opportunities for personal growth.
The impact:
Research shows a strong link between self-critical thinking and increased anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem (Counselling Today, 2014). The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) emphasises that addressing the inner critic is vital for improving mental health and fostering resilience in clients (BACP, 2017).
The dilemma: Supporting clients in overcoming the inner critic
For counsellors and coaches, the challenge of addressing the inner critic is magnified. How do you help clients identify and manage a voice that feels so integral to their sense of self? Without specific tools, breaking through entrenched patterns of self-criticism can feel daunting.
While counsellors are familiar with the devastating effects of negative self-talk, equipping clients with practical, evidence-based tools to combat the inner critic remains a challenge. This workshop bridges that gap, providing you with strategies to help clients:
- Identify and challenge destructive inner narratives.
- Replace critical self-talk with constructive, empowering beliefs.
- Cultivate confidence and self-compassion through proven techniques.
Workshop objectives
By attending this workshop, participants will:
- Learn to identify the origins and impact of the inner critic on clients' confidence, emotional regulation and behaviour.
- Explore practical tools to help clients recognise, categorise, and reframe self-critical inner dialogue effectively.
- Understand the theoretical foundations using a humanistic approach, core conditions, and other theoretical approaches such as psychodynamic, TA, CBT, and SFT, and how to apply them using the new tools.
- Gain creative strategies, such as the Grid Concept and Voice Template, to help clients visualise and address inner dialogue patterns.
- Tailor tools like the 13-Step Grey Defence Process to suit your diverse client needs and therapeutic goals.
- Integrate the Grid Society framework into broader counselling approaches to promote client growth, resilience, and self-compassion.
This will be an interactive and engaging online event with six CPD hours awarded.
Cost: £65. Discount for counselling students: 25% - use promo code student25 at checkout.
Find out more and book your place at thisisgridlife.shop



Kay Choudary With over 25 years of experience, Kay Choudary is a senior accredited therapist, a tutor, and a supervisor, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate mental health. Grid Society Ambassadors Natasha and Tamara bring a unique perspective to this workshop as both users and advocates of the Grid Society. See website