All self-criticism has its own function, which can range from compassionate self-improvement to shame-based punishment. Perhaps surprisingly, our inner critics are guides that are trying to serve us in some way. Albeit misguided, they may be trying to motivate us, protect us, guide us, or punish us.  

Monkey therapy draws from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and neuroprocessing and body-focused interventions to in order to change your inner dialogue to be more constructive, healthy, and empowering.

Monkey therapy works by helping you:

Uncover underlying causes. Discover the past experiences, underlying beliefs, thoughts, and emotions that are driving your inner critics.

Transform your relationship with your inner critic. Once you understand its functional intent, you can meet your critic with compassion. Relating with the inner critic compassionately doesn’t give it more strength. Rather, it empowers you to break free from its grip, fostering more positive inner dialogue and opening up pathways to personal growth.

Change self-defeating beliefs. Monkey therapy helps you to update negative beliefs and thinking patterns, replacing them with more realistic and healthy alternatives.

Break the habit. Our inner critic pops up when we are driving, washing dishes, or whenever we aren’t paying attention. It is automatic and it guides our actions without us realising it. In turn, our actions reinforce our negative beliefs. Gain the ability to recognise and break the self-critical habit, replacing it with more constructive thinking.

Defuse its damaging impact. An overactive critical voice can stop us in our tracks. Negative self-talk such as, You are such an idiot. What is wrong with you?, can make us feel stuck, unable to change our situation or ourselves. We may end up feeling anxious, depressed, angry or hopeless as a result.

Monkey therapy addresses the stress,  anxiety, depression, and stuckness that can occur with inner criticism.  

Build alternative inner voices that are compassionate, supportive, and empowering. Learn how to develop more useful inner dialogue. One that actually accomplishes the goals that the self-punishing voice fails to: guidance, safety, and motivation.

Find Out More: Your Inner Critic, The Science Behind Guilt and Shame, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Stress.