Conquering the Critical Inner
Voice
Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes
Executive Director, AllCEUs
AllCEUs.com Unlimited CEUs and Specialty Certifications $59
By Robert and Lisa Firestone
Objectives
Define the critical inner voice
Explore common messages from The
Voice
Identify helpful responses to The Voice
Reflect upon why positive affirmations
and prior interventions may not have
worked.
The Critical Inner Voice
It is the defended, negative side of our
personality that is opposed to our ongoing
development.
The voice consists of the negative thoughts,
beliefs and attitudes that
Oppose our best interests
Diminish our self-esteem
Warns us about other people
Promotes angry and cynical attitudes
Creates a negative, pessimistic picture of the world
The Voice cont…
It edits our thoughts, controls our behavior, and
inhibits our actions.
It thinks it is protecting us from being hurt or
feeling abandoned
It reinforces our feelings of shame and guilt and
insufficiency.
When managed effectively, the barbs of your
inner critic prevent complacency and boredom
while nudging you to improve your life
Common “Voices” in Yourself
You’re stupid.
You’re unattractive.
You’re not like other people.
You’re a failure.
You never get anything right.
No one will ever love you.
You’re fat.
You’re such a loser.
You’ll never make friends.
You’ll never accomplish anything.
Common “Voices” in Your Career
You don’t know what you’re doing.
Who do you think you are? You’ll never be successful.
You’re under too much pressure. You can’t take it.
You’ll never get everything done. You’re so lazy.
You should just put this off until tomorrow.
No one appreciates you.
You’d better be perfect, or you’ll get fired.
Nobody likes you here.
When are you ever going to get a real job?
No one would hire you.
Common “Voices” in Relationships
You’re never going to find another person who understands you.
Don’t get too hooked on her.
He doesn’t really care about you.
She is too good for you.
You’re better off on your own.
As soon as she gets to know you, she will reject you.
You’ve got to be in control.
It’s your fault if he gets upset.
Don’t be vulnerable or you’ll wind up getting hurt.
Responses
So what?
Who says?
Who cares?
That doesn’t matter.
Prove it!
Positive affirmations only help when you actually
believe the message.
Trying to substitute positive words for negative
feelings can delay your self-discovery
More Responses
Cognitive restructuring is only effective when you
have no subconscious desire to hold onto a
negative thought.
What is the motivation for holding on to a negative
thought
Fear of failure, rejection, the unknown?
Replace negative thoughts with realistic ones.
I have to be the best//impress…
I will DO my best.
Identifying Your Critical Inner Voice
Recognize the events that trigger your critical
inner voice
Recognize the specific outside criticisms that
support your critical inner voice
Become aware of times you may be projecting
your self-attacks onto other people
Notice changes in your emotions, thoughts,
sensations or urges
Visualizing the Real You/Developing
Self-Esteem
My positive qualities and Abilities
My interests and activities
My long-term goals
My short-term goals
Where do I stand in relation to my goals?
What is the next step I need to make to achieve
my goals?
In Therapy
The client will…
Identify the content of the negative thought process.
Articulate his or her self-attacks in the second person.
Discuss insights and reactions to verbalizing the voice.
Attempt to understand the relationship between voice
attacks and early life experience.
Answer back to the voice attacks
Develop insight about how the internal critic is
influencing his or her present-day behaviors.
Plan changes in these behaviors
Other Interventions
Stop ruminating
Shift your attention
Write it down
Think about who these voices sound like
Direct experience
Observational learning
Ask what advice you would give a friend who was
experiencing self doubt.
Other Interventions
Examine the evidence
Replace overly critical thoughts with more
accurate ones
Balance acceptance with self-improvement
Balance the negative with the positive
Practice self compassion
Summary
Everyone has a critical inner voice.
In some ways it tries to protect us keeping us in
our comfort zone
Conquering The Voice requires
Understanding of why you may want to hold on to those
messages
Development of self-acceptance
Practice!