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Ash Chudgar

Screenshot of a Zoom with two people. “Michelle” is saying, “In my body I was feel like, ‘Shields!’”

Demo session 4: Honoring protective responses

The part of “Michelle” who’s giving her intense nausea clearly has a lot of information for her — but before she can inquire, another part of her intervenes to put “shields up” against the bad feeling. Rather than persisting, we honor its protective wisdom and back off. See what happens when we do.

Kindness in Space

Kindness in Space

My husband recently told me about a memory-care facility in the Netherlands that’s made to look like a tiny town, so it feels more familiar to the people who live there. That got me thinking about my mother-in-law, dementia, and the ways our physical environments can make us seem foolish or wise.

Screenshot of a Zoom with two people. I’m saying, “It’s not all of who you are.”

Demo session 3: Meeting a part who feels anxious

When you start paying attention to your inner world, parts of you may use strong sensations to get your attention. Here, a part of “Michelle” floods her with nausea — uncomfortable, but bearable. This illustrates a crucial point: as long as you can observe a feeling, it can’t overwhelm you.

Screenshot of a Zoom with two people. I’m saying, “If it ever starts to feel like too much, just say so, and we’ll back off.”

Demo session 2: Why turning inward requires consent

When you’re experiencing emotional suffering, deliberately turning your attention inward can be daunting. Before I invite my client to start paying attention to her inner world, I explain why, and reassure her that she can stop at any time. Can you catch three requests for consent in this clip?

Screenshot of a Zoom with two people. I’m saying, “That is a lot of feelings at one time.”

Demo session 1: “A lot of feelings at one time”

Having mixed feelings is a common experience — and it’s the easiest, most direct way to begin exploring the complexity of our inner communities. During the first few minutes of this demonstration session, see if you can track all the different ways “Michelle” is feeling.

Still from the YouTube video linked below, showing a bald white man with a brown beard and a white woman with brown hair.

What a first coaching session might be like

What is a coaching session like? My colleague Alysa Haas and I teamed up to show you how a new client’s first session might go, from start to finish. Here are the videos we made.

A graphic urging support for the BIPOC Therapy Fund of Mental Health Liberation.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, and you’re invited

This month, I’m inviting you to join me in supporting Mental Health Liberation. Our donations will help connect people of color with high-quality mental healthcare from BIPOC providers, at no cost — and support BIPOC clinicians during their training and early careers.