The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Building Social Confidence: Using Compassion-Focused Therapy to Overcome Shyness and Social Anxiety (The New Harbinger Compassion-Focused Therapy Series)
"This brilliant, original analysis of the nature of contemporary shyness is a must-read for everyone interested in the human condition-shy people and the rest of us, as well."—Philip Zimbardo, founder of the Heroic Imagination Project and author ofShynessandThe Lucifer Effect"It is so refreshing to find a book of this kind that helps and supports without patronizing or pathologizing. Lynne Henderson combines ideas from psychological theory and clinical practice with the wisdom of Buddhist spirituality to cultivate a unique new approach to understanding shyness. Principles of compassion, empathy, and mindfulness are presented as the tools with which people can better manage their shyness and live positively with it in everyday life. By nurturing self-acceptance rather than self-blame and criticism, the book shows we can promote greater tolerance in both personal and cultural attitudes to shyness."—Susie Scott, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Sussex, UK, and author ofShyness and SocietyandMaking Sense of Everyday Life"A remarkable book that turns the problem of social anxiety inside out, emphasizing inner compassion as the antidote for the self-criticism common among those who are extremely shy.The Compassionate Mind Guide to Improving Social Confidence and Reducing Shynessis a sincere, straightforward, and novel approach to shyness written by a compassionate and astute clinician. The book has broken new ground on the topic and is certain to help many achieve greater social confidence and success."—Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, founding partner of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy and assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley"This book addresses the very essence of what is missing in much of the contemporary mental health treatment industry-compassion. Most books focus on theories and procedures, but it is the healing power of compassion that is the engine that makes these things work. Too often, this engine is dismissed as non-essential or not sufficiently novel to warrant discussion. This volume specifically and intentionally attempts to correct this omission. But the task is tremendous-how do you describe compassion, let alone teach one to have it? This is a valuable effort to do these very things, and mental health treatment will benefit by this book's success."—Larry E. Beutler, PhD, William McInnes Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University"Written by a highly experienced therapist, this book is an essential read for anybody who wants to learn more about shyness and strategies to deal with it by using compassion-focused therapy. Lynne Henderson integrates cognitive-behavioral principles with compassion-focused therapy, a more recent intervention developed by Paul Gilbert. The resulting book is a fascinating text that will be of great value to people who want to learn more about compassion and shyness."—Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD, professor of psychology at Boston University and author ofCognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder