Charlie Heriot-Maitland

Promoting mental health and compassion through therapy, research, training, creative work, and writing

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  • HOME
  • ACADEMIC
    • Publications
    • Research projects
    • Academic journal
  • TRAINING
    • Organisations I’ve worked with
    • Courses & workshops
    • Upcoming events
  • CONSULTING
    • Coaching & supervision
    • Group & team consultancy
    • Therapy
  • BOOKS
    • Controlled Explosions in Mental Health
    • Relating to Voices Using CFT
  • STUDIO
    • Doodles
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  • ABOUT

New paper on chairwork for voice-hearers

on 02/06/2025 in ACADEMIC, NEWS & UPDATES

It was wonderful to co-author with chairwork expert Tobyn on this new invited article:

β€œCompassion-focused chairwork for voice-hearing relationships, body triggers and motivational states”

This paper is open access on this link:

https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12600

See list of publications
  • 𝟭𝟬. π——π—œπ—¦π—¦π—’π—–π—œπ—”π—§π—’π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a dissociative response This is the most forceful member of the Self-Criticism Unit. When certain feelings, needs, or memories feel too dangerous, this part shuts them down. It disconnects awareness to keep us alive. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: overwhelming pain, re-traumatisation, or threat. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: numbness, fragmentation, loss of access to needs. #controlledexplosions
    2 days ago
  • 𝟡. π—¦π—¨π—•π— π—œπ—§π—§π—˜π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a submissive response This member of the Self-Criticism Unit creates feelings of inferiority, defeat, or compliance. It helps us yield before we’re hurt - especially when others feel more powerful. Submission can reduce conflict and danger, but at a cost to mental health. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: confrontation, retaliation, humiliation, or harm. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: loss of confidence, agency, and voice.β€Œ
    6 days ago
  • 𝟴. π——π—œπ—¦π—–π—›π—”π—₯π—šπ—˜π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to discharge and complete a fight/flight response This critic switches on intense self-attack to activate threat emotions - anger, fear, disgust. Why? Because some threat responses were never completed. The body is trying to finish what it once couldn’t. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: undischarged threat energy that stays trapped in the body. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: harsh self-attack and emotional pain.
    2 weeks ago
  • 𝟳. π—•π—Ÿπ—”π— π—˜π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a feeling of agency and control This member takes responsibility for everything that goes wrong - even when it isn’t our fault. Self-blame can feel painful, but it also creates a sense of agency: If it’s my fault, maybe I can fix it. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: helplessness, powerlessness, and uncontrollable loss. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: shame, self-attack, diminished self-worth.β€Œ
    2 weeks ago
  • 𝟲. π—œπ— π—£π—₯π—’π—©π—˜π—₯ (the first member of the bomb squad's Self-Criticism Unit) π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a self-improvement response This is the self-critic that pushes us to do better, fix ourselves, and improve. On the surface, it can sound motivating - even helpful. Underneath, it’s often driven by fear: What if I don’t improve and something bad happens? 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: being seen as flawed, rejected, or inadequate. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: relentless self-criticism, shame, pressure.
    3 weeks ago
  • A doodle exploring self-criticism - one of the protective patterns we touched on in the book launch webinar. #controlledexplosions
    3 weeks ago
  • #controlledexplosions
    3 weeks ago
  • I’ve recently had a conversation with Paul Gilbert, published this week in The Psychologist. The article links to a full recorded conversation in which we explore threat-protective systems, vulnerability, compassion, and my work in mental health, including the ideas behind β€˜Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’. You can watch the full conversation via the link in my bio.
    4 weeks ago
  • To mark the publication of Controlled Explosions in Mental Health, I’ll be joining the Compassionate Mind Foundation for an evening webinar next week, on 3rd February. I’ll be introducing some of the book’s key ideas and themes, and reflecting on how they relate to our own inner lives. All are very welcome to attend.
    1 month ago
  • β€˜Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’ is published today. This book grew out of many years of clinical work, research, and conversations about how we respond to threat - and what can change when we understand difficult patterns as attempts at protection. Thank you to everyone who has engaged with these ideas here, and I hope people find the book helpful. #controlledexplosions
    1 month ago
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𝟭𝟬. π——π—œπ—¦π—¦π—’π—–π—œπ—”π—§π—’π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a dissociative response This is the most forceful member of the Self-Criticism Unit. When certain feelings, needs, or memories feel too dangerous, this part shuts them down. It disconnects awareness to keep us alive. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: overwhelming pain, re-traumatisation, or threat. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: numbness, fragmentation, loss of access to needs. #controlledexplosions
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/10
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
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𝟡. π—¦π—¨π—•π— π—œπ—§π—§π—˜π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a submissive response This member of the Self-Criticism Unit creates feelings of inferiority, defeat, or compliance. It helps us yield before we’re hurt - especially when others feel more powerful. Submission can reduce conflict and danger, but at a cost to mental health. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: confrontation, retaliation, humiliation, or harm. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: loss of confidence, agency, and voice.β€Œ
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/10
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
𝟴. π——π—œπ—¦π—–π—›π—”π—₯π—šπ—˜π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to discharge and complete a fight/flight response This critic switches on intense self-attack to activate threat emotions - anger, fear, disgust. Why? Because some threat responses were never completed. The body is trying to finish what it once couldn’t. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: undischarged threat energy that stays trapped in the body. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: harsh self-attack and emotional pain.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/10
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
𝟳. π—•π—Ÿπ—”π— π—˜π—₯ π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a feeling of agency and control This member takes responsibility for everything that goes wrong - even when it isn’t our fault. Self-blame can feel painful, but it also creates a sense of agency: If it’s my fault, maybe I can fix it. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: helplessness, powerlessness, and uncontrollable loss. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: shame, self-attack, diminished self-worth.β€Œ
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/10
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
𝟲. π—œπ— π—£π—₯π—’π—©π—˜π—₯ (the first member of the bomb squad's Self-Criticism Unit) π—’π—•π—π—˜π—–π—§π—œπ—©π—˜: to create a self-improvement response This is the self-critic that pushes us to do better, fix ourselves, and improve. On the surface, it can sound motivating - even helpful. Underneath, it’s often driven by fear: What if I don’t improve and something bad happens? 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 π—”π—©π—˜π—₯π—§π—˜π——: being seen as flawed, rejected, or inadequate. 𝗛𝗔π—₯𝗠 𝗖π—₯π—˜π—”π—§π—˜π——: relentless self-criticism, shame, pressure.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/10
A doodle exploring self-criticism - one of the protective patterns we touched on in the book launch webinar. #controlledexplosions
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
A doodle exploring self-criticism - one of the protective patterns we touched on in the book launch webinar. #controlledexplosions
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/10
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
#controlledexplosions
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/10
I’ve recently had a conversation with Paul Gilbert, published this week in The Psychologist. The article links to a full recorded conversation in which we explore threat-protective systems, vulnerability, compassion, and my work in mental health, including the ideas behind β€˜Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’. You can watch the full conversation via the link in my bio.
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
I’ve recently had a conversation with Paul Gilbert, published this week in The Psychologist. The article links to a full recorded conversation in which we explore threat-protective systems, vulnerability, compassion, and my work in mental health, including the ideas behind β€˜Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’. You can watch the full conversation via the link in my bio.
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/10
To mark the publication of Controlled Explosions in Mental Health, I’ll be joining the Compassionate Mind Foundation for an evening webinar next week, on 3rd February. I’ll be introducing some of the book’s key ideas and themes, and reflecting on how they relate to our own inner lives. All are very welcome to attend.
To mark the publication of Controlled Explosions in Mental Health, I’ll be joining the Compassionate Mind Foundation for an evening webinar next week, on 3rd February. I’ll be introducing some of the book’s key ideas and themes, and reflecting on how they relate to our own inner lives. All are very welcome to attend.
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
To mark the publication of Controlled Explosions in Mental Health, I’ll be joining the Compassionate Mind Foundation for an evening webinar next week, on 3rd February. I’ll be introducing some of the book’s key ideas and themes, and reflecting on how they relate to our own inner lives. All are very welcome to attend.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
9/10
β€˜Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’ is published today. This book grew out of many years of clinical work, research, and conversations about how we respond to threat - and what can change when we understand difficult patterns as attempts at protection. Thank you to everyone who has engaged with these ideas here, and I hope people find the book helpful. #controlledexplosions
@charlieheriotmaitland
@charlieheriotmaitland
•
Follow
β€˜Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’ is published today. This book grew out of many years of clinical work, research, and conversations about how we respond to threat - and what can change when we understand difficult patterns as attempts at protection. Thank you to everyone who has engaged with these ideas here, and I hope people find the book helpful. #controlledexplosions
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
10/10

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