Befriending your Inner Critic with Chris Burris

Chris Burris, an IFS Senior Lead Trainer and therapist, discusses his journey into therapy, the impact of trauma, and working with inner critics within the Internal Family Systems model. Chris shares his early sensitivity to others' emotions and his observation of the lack of support for people struggling with trauma in his rural upbringing as key factors that led him to psychotherapy. He emphasizes the importance of addressing harshness and criticism within a client's internal system before exploring vulnerable parts, drawing parallels to family therapy dynamics. Chris also explores how inner critics, often driven by fear, can be befriended and transformed by accessing self-energy and inspiration, allowing for a shift from survival-based motivations to creativity and imagination.