Soothing

Soothing (or rather, difficulty in self-soothing) is a notion that comes up a lot in my work. When people report a difficulty managing emotions, where experiences like anxiety or anger come on quickly and intensely, and escalate until the point of what people often refer to as an “explosion”, it is often the case that these people were not soothed as children.

This video explains very nicely what soothing looks like between infant and caregiver, and also talks about how essential this is for allowing individuals to soothe themselves in the face of difficulties as adults.

I often work with people who haven’t been soothed as children. I share insights and practical strategies to help people learn to self-soothe and to accept soothing from appropriate others. In so doing, emotions can be contained and held, allowing for a more peaceful way forwards. 

Dr. Marie Thompson, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, Vivamus.