Join Cori for a guided compassionate mind practice exploring the three emotional regulation systems developed by Paul Gilbert as part of Compassion Focused Therapy. Through a trauma informed and somatic lens, this practice helps you understand how these systems shape your emotional responses and why cultivating balance in the nervous system is essential for developing more compassion.

In this podcast, Cori gently leads you through a meditative, body-based practice designed to support regulation, deepen self-awareness, and nurture a greater sense of compassion for yourself and others.

This podcast was recorded live on instagram and shared as a podcast. 

Resources: 

The Three Emotional Regulation Systems

According to Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), our minds work with three main emotional regulation systems:

🔴 1. Threat System (Protection)

• Focus: Safety and survival
• Feelings: Anxiety, anger, shame, inner critic
• Body: Tightness, shallow breathing, a frozen or reactive voice
  This system is not a problem – it is trying to protect you.

🔵 2. Drive System (Doing and Achieving)

• Focus: Goals, success, motivation
• Feelings: Excitement, urgency
• Body: Activated, energised
  Helpful, but it can lead to burnout if overused.

🟢 3. Soothing System (Safeness and Connection)

• Focus: Calm, care, belonging, groundedness
• Feelings: Contentment, warmth
• Body: Slower breathing, softer muscles, a steadier voice
  This is the system we strengthen through compassion-based practices.

You tube:

Emotional regulation systems: https://youtu.be/HX2N9Z6KKI8?si=qV7yLVGysohLb_7B

Compassionate other: https://youtu.be/JqlzIxxWSzg?si=EZx_NdPTRQmik4YH

The compassionate mind: https://youtu.be/ufK-0qANOd8?si=ldZTF40j4ZHhagDy

The window of tolerance: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DTNVlppGz0zM&ved=2ahUKEwjIr-HTpuWTAxU6dUEAHYXUOKcQwqsBegQIVxAB&usg=AOvVaw3aSXaWNGV7AU0TymwKR9MQ

People you may want to look up in the somatic world:

Bessel van der Kolk

Peter Levine

Arielle Schwartz

Tara Brach