Home – Charlie Heriot-Maitland

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

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- Controlled Explosions in Mental Health
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HOME
ACADEMIC
TRAINING
CONSULTING
BOOKS
- Controlled Explosions in Mental Health
- Relating to Voices Using CFT
STUDIO
ABOUT

Compassion breaks (with Dora)
Mental health doodles
Academic publications
Training & consulting

1 month ago
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2 months ago
2 months ago

A reminder that sometimes it’s better to act deliberately than to let fear decide for us.

@charlieheriotmaitland

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A reminder that sometimes it’s better to act deliberately than to let fear decide for us.

1 month ago

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1/10

The protective functions of self-criticism explored in a collage of doodles...

IMPROVER - to create a self-improvement response

BLAMER - to create a feeling of agency and control

DISCHARGER - to discharge and complete a fight/flight response

SUBMITTER - to create a submissive response

DISSOCIATOR - to create a dissociative response

The protective functions of self-criticism explored in a collage of doodles...

IMPROVER - to create a self-improvement response

BLAMER - to create a feeling of agency and control

DISCHARGER - to discharge and complete a fight/flight response

SUBMITTER - to create a submissive response

DISSOCIATOR - to create a dissociative response

The protective functions of self-criticism explored in a collage of doodles...

IMPROVER - to create a self-improvement response

BLAMER - to create a feeling of agency and control

DISCHARGER - to discharge and complete a fight/flight response

SUBMITTER - to create a submissive response

DISSOCIATOR - to create a dissociative response

The protective functions of self-criticism explored in a collage of doodles...

IMPROVER - to create a self-improvement response

BLAMER - to create a feeling of agency and control

DISCHARGER - to discharge and complete a fight/flight response

SUBMITTER - to create a submissive response

DISSOCIATOR - to create a dissociative response

The protective functions of self-criticism explored in a collage of doodles...

IMPROVER - to create a self-improvement response

BLAMER - to create a feeling of agency and control

DISCHARGER - to discharge and complete a fight/flight response

SUBMITTER - to create a submissive response

DISSOCIATOR - to create a dissociative response

@charlieheriotmaitland

•

The protective functions of self-criticism explored in a collage of doodles... IMPROVER - to create a self-improvement response BLAMER - to create a feeling of agency and control DISCHARGER - to discharge and complete a fight/flight response SUBMITTER - to create a submissive response DISSOCIATOR - to create a dissociative response

1 month ago

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2/10

@charlieheriotmaitland

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The audiobook of ‘Controlled Explosions in Mental Health’ is out today. Dora and I have listened to many audiobooks on our morning runs - this is the first one by me. If you’d like to listen, you can find it via the link in my bio. #controlledexplosions

1 month ago

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3/10

Upcoming Compassion Focused Therapy training dates:

18–19 March 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
2-day online workshop
Introduction to CFT
Balanced Minds

25 March 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
½-day online workshop
Foundations of CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

29 April – 7 May 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
4 × ½-day online workshops
Clinical Skills in CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

17–23 June 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
5-day online workshop
CMT Train the Trainer
Balanced Minds

@drchrisirons @charlieheriotmaitland
@balancedminds @stanford.inspire.training

Upcoming Compassion Focused Therapy training dates:

18–19 March 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
2-day online workshop
Introduction to CFT
Balanced Minds

25 March 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
½-day online workshop
Foundations of CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

29 April – 7 May 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
4 × ½-day online workshops
Clinical Skills in CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

17–23 June 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
5-day online workshop
CMT Train the Trainer
Balanced Minds

@drchrisirons @charlieheriotmaitland
@balancedminds @stanford.inspire.training

Upcoming Compassion Focused Therapy training dates:

18–19 March 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
2-day online workshop
Introduction to CFT
Balanced Minds

25 March 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
½-day online workshop
Foundations of CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

29 April – 7 May 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
4 × ½-day online workshops
Clinical Skills in CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

17–23 June 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
5-day online workshop
CMT Train the Trainer
Balanced Minds

@drchrisirons @charlieheriotmaitland
@balancedminds @stanford.inspire.training

Upcoming Compassion Focused Therapy training dates:

18–19 March 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
2-day online workshop
Introduction to CFT
Balanced Minds

25 March 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
½-day online workshop
Foundations of CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

29 April – 7 May 2026
09:00–13:00 (PST)
4 × ½-day online workshops
Clinical Skills in CFT for Psychosis
Stanford INSPIRE Training

17–23 June 2026
09:30–16:30 (GMT)
5-day online workshop
CMT Train the Trainer
Balanced Minds

@drchrisirons @charlieheriotmaitland
@balancedminds @stanford.inspire.training

@charlieheriotmaitland

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Upcoming Compassion Focused Therapy training dates: 18–19 March 2026 09:30–16:30 (GMT) 2-day online workshop Introduction to CFT Balanced Minds 25 March 2026 09:00–13:00 (PST) ½-day online workshop Foundations of CFT for Psychosis Stanford INSPIRE Training 29 April – 7 May 2026 09:00–13:00 (PST) 4 × ½-day online workshops Clinical Skills in CFT for Psychosis Stanford INSPIRE Training 17–23 June 2026 09:30–16:30 (GMT) 5-day online workshop CMT Train the Trainer Balanced Minds @drchrisirons @charlieheriotmaitland @balancedminds @stanford.inspire.training

2 months ago

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4/10

@charlieheriotmaitland

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𝟭𝟬. 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘: 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. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗: overwhelming pain, re-traumatisation, or threat. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗: numbness, fragmentation, loss of access to needs. #controlledexplosions

2 months ago

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5/10

@charlieheriotmaitland

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𝟵. 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘: 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. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗: confrontation, retaliation, humiliation, or harm. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗: loss of confidence, agency, and voice.‌

2 months ago

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@charlieheriotmaitland

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𝟴. 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘: 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. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗: undischarged threat energy that stays trapped in the body. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗: harsh self-attack and emotional pain.

2 months ago

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7/10

@charlieheriotmaitland

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𝟳. 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘: 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. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗: helplessness, powerlessness, and uncontrollable loss. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗: shame, self-attack, diminished self-worth.‌

2 months ago

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8/10

@charlieheriotmaitland

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𝟲. 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 (the first member of the bomb squad's Self-Criticism Unit) 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘: 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? 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗: being seen as flawed, rejected, or inadequate. 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗: relentless self-criticism, shame, pressure.

2 months ago

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9/10

A doodle exploring self-criticism - one of the protective patterns we touched on in the book launch webinar.

#controlledexplosions

@charlieheriotmaitland

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A doodle exploring self-criticism - one of the protective patterns we touched on in the book launch webinar. #controlledexplosions

2 months ago

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10/10

Grounded in compassion..., driven by curiosity..., expressed through creativity.

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Upcoming events

Apr 29

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Clinical Skills in CFTp – Apr 2026

Jun 17

17 June @ 9:30 am - 23 June @ 5:00 pm

Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) Facilitator Training – Jun 2026

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