When you've learned to be hard on yourself
Compassion Focused Therapy Across The North East
A therapy grounded in neuroscience that reduces shame and self-criticism by building a more balanced, compassionate inner voice.
- 44 Practitioners
- 6 North East clinics
- Free First Pathway call
How it works
For the self-criticism that logic alone cannot reach.
When people experience difficult or threatening events, the brain's threat system activates to protect them. For many, this system becomes overactive, generating a relentless inner critic: a harsh, self-blaming voice that persists long after the original threat has passed. Knowing that this voice is unfair does not make it quieter.
CFT works by understanding where that inner critic came from and teaching the brain to activate its soothing system instead. Using compassionate imagery, mindfulness, and behavioural exercises, CFT helps develop a genuinely compassionate relationship with oneself, one grounded in warmth and understanding rather than self-attack.
The approach is particularly effective for people who have experienced shame-based difficulties, including trauma, low self-worth, and eating difficulties. It draws on evolutionary psychology and neuroscience to explain why the mind works the way it does, which many people find deeply validating in itself.
What CFT can help with
More than low self-esteem.
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Shame and persistent self-criticism
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Anxiety and excessive worry
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Depression and low mood
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Trauma and PTSD
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Eating difficulties and body image
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Anger and emotional dysregulation
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Personality difficulties
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Low self-worth and self-esteem
How Select routes the work
The right CFT therapist, matched with care
Our Pathway Team takes the time to understand what you're going through before matching you with a practitioner who has the right Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) expertise, experience, and availability. Good fit helps create the best foundation for effective support.
- 01
A confidential first discussion
The Pathway Team listens to what is happening and matches you to the right practitioner. Your therapist then agrees a personalised plan with you.
- 02
Matched to a CFT practitioner
Select routes you to a practitioner trained in CFT with relevant experience and availability at your preferred clinic or online.
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Compassion-building, practical sessions
Work begins by understanding what is driving the inner critic, then building the compassion skills you can use between sessions and in everyday life.
Practitioner fit
CFT matched to you, not a generic approach.
CFT can be used as a standalone approach or alongside other therapies. The first conversation is about understanding what you are carrying and finding the practitioner best placed to work with you.
What the first conversation explores
- The nature of your current difficulties and how long they have been present
- Whether CFT is the right approach, or whether another therapy fits better first
- Location, online preference, and session timing
- Any risk or safeguarding considerations
- Which practitioner's experience and style is the right match
A simple first move
Not sure where to start? Talk it through with the Pathway Team.
Who you might work with
Practitioners who offer this
Browse the full team, or let the Pathway Team match you.
Where we offer this
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) across the North East
Tynemouth
1 Tynemouth Road, NE30 4AY
Visit clinic
Newcastle
The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Regent Centre, NE3 3PF
Visit clinicAlso available all locations.
Explore related care
Conditions, clinics and related therapies
Fees and insurance
Clear fees, and most major insurers accepted
No GP referral is needed. If you are using private medical insurance, tell the Pathway Team when you get in touch and they will help with authorisation.
Session fees
- Relationship therapy£95
- Specialist psychological therapy£110
- Clinical & counselling psychology£140
- Psychological assessmentsfrom £350
Insurers accepted
Bupa · Aviva · AXA · Allianz · Simply Health · Vita Health Group
Questions before you start
What people usually ask
1 What is Compassion Focused Therapy?
Compassion Focused Therapy is a psychological therapy developed by Professor Paul Gilbert that draws on evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness. It works with the brain's threat system, which can become overactive after difficult life experiences, generating persistent self-criticism, shame, and harsh self-judgement. CFT builds the skills to activate a more compassionate, balanced inner voice, not through positive thinking, but through understanding and working with how the mind actually functions.
2 Who is CFT most suited to?
CFT is particularly well suited to people who struggle with high levels of shame, self-criticism, or a harsh inner voice that is difficult to shift through logic or reassurance alone. It is also helpful for people who have previously tried CBT but found they could understand their thinking patterns intellectually without being able to reduce the emotional distress. CFT works well alongside other approaches and can be used for anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating difficulties.
3 How many CFT sessions will I need?
A typical course of CFT runs between 12 and 20 sessions, though this varies depending on the complexity of the presenting difficulties. Your practitioner will discuss a realistic plan with you after the initial assessment, and progress is reviewed regularly throughout the work.
4 Is CFT available online?
Yes. Many of our CFT practitioners offer sessions online as well as in person at our Tynemouth and Newcastle clinics. The Pathway Team will help you work out which format suits you best.
From the blog
Read more before you decide
How Long Does EMDR Take to Work? Effects & Recovery
EMDR therapy typically takes 6 to 12 sessions for a single traumatic event (such as a car accident) and 12 or more sessions for complex or repeated trauma. Each session lasts 60 to 90 minutes, usually once a week. Many people notice significant improvement within the first 3 to 4 sessions. Post-session effects like tiredness or vivid dreams are normal and usually settle within 1 to 3 days. EMDR is recommended by NICE as a first-line treatment for PTSD and is as effective as trauma-focused CBT.
Read article
Small Steps, Big Changes: How EMDR Therapy Helps Reclaim Your Life from Trauma
Trauma is not processed in the part of the brain that handles talking, which is why EMDR takes a different route to recovery: it helps the brain reprocess stuck memories so they lose their emotional charge.
Read article
How EMDR Works in the Brain: The Science of Healing Trauma
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain file distressing experiences as historical events rather than current threats. Here is what the neuroscience tells us.
Read article
What Happens in a CBT Session? A Step-by-Step Guide
A CBT session typically starts with a brief check-in, followed by a discussion about your current challenges, thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Your therapist will help you identify unhelpful thinking patterns, develop practical coping strategies, and set a small action plan to practise between sessions. Most CBT sessions last around 50 minutes and are focused on helping you achieve specific mental health goals.
Read articleGet in touch
Ready to feel heard?
Leave your details and a member of our Pathway Team will be in touch, usually within one working day. Or call us directly on 0191 258 0008.
- Confidential and judgement-free
- No obligation, no pressure to book
- No GP referral needed
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