Dissolving Your Inner Critic | Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 | 1pm PST / 4pm EST The inner critic originates as an internalization of the voices of caregivers and early environments during the first decade of life. From the moment of our birth, we’re conditioned to view our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and our sense of worth through this lens of habitual judgment and externalized standards. This process often occurs without our conscious awareness or any questioning of the validity of these internal projections. As a result, we find ourselves looping in patterns our inner critic attempts to protect us from, rather than resolving the root of that protective impulse. In this live session, we’ll cultivate familiarity and attunement with this learned harsh inner voice. By developing a loving, non-judgmental, and intentional relationship with our inner critic, we begin the process of gradually moving beyond the attempt to change it. This shift gives us the opportunity to learn why it expresses itself in this way and what its good and benevolent intentions are. The inner critic is always trying to protect us from something. Over time, through repetition, this approach softens our inner critic and rewires our brain to move away from harsh judgment as a primary motivator for change, laying down new neural pathways of self-awareness, self-compassion, and integration.. What we’ll cover together during this hour includes: * Understanding Our Protective Instincts (10 minutes) We’ll examine the development of the inner critic as a protective mechanism. We’ll look at how the majority of us are conditioned to default to this judgmental lens and why fighting this part of ourselves limits our ability to resolve underlying patterns that no longer serve us. * Practices for Somatic Befriending (40 minutes) We’ll explore Inner Relationship Focusing, a derivative methodology of the Focusing process developed by Eugene Gendlin in the 1970s after he and Carl Rogers observed the specific factors that support lasting change and that are common in all successful therapeutic processes. Through somatic awareness, parts work, and compassionate dialogue specific to the focusing process, you’ll learn to befriend your inner critic. This process supports a shift in your internal conditioning, allowing you to relate to your experience of self from a place of self-acceptance, compassion, and love. * Warm Q&A Space (10 minutes) This is a dedicated time for you to bring the tender edges of your self-relationship and receive attuned, compassionate support. The Q&A section of my Lives is often integrated into the ongoing practices and I also leave time at the end of our shared practices for more Q&A. This session is intended for those seeking to transform perfectionism, shame, or persistent self-judgment through a grounded, scientifically grounded, and somatic approach. I look forward to witnessing your unfolding and holding space for you. Alessandrina 🤍