Treatment approach
Compassion Focused Therapy
Stop being your own worst critic. Structured work on the pain underneath, not just reassurance.
Or call (646) 493-4007
Choose a time and send your request. It takes about 30 seconds and one short form.
4.95from 113 reviews
In-network with
- UnitedHealthcare
- Aetna
- Medicare
- Oscar Health
- Meritain Health
- Oxford Health Plans
- Cigna
- Optum
- Highmark BCBS WNY
- Univera Healthcare
- MagnaCare
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Industry-leading, structured care
Progress measured monthly, not guessed at
We respond within one business day
Every clinician state-licensed
Why MindView
The method is only as good as the decision to use it.
Most practices use the one approach they trained in, on everyone. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is one of many ours are trained in, and which one you get is decided by what is actually driving the problem, then reviewed against monthly measures.
- 01
Intake
What is actually going on, rated 0 to 10 as your baseline.
- 02
Your history
Why it is happening. History, relationships, work, health.
- 03
Treatment plan
Written and collaborative, built against those causes.
- 04
Monthly review
Standardized measures, reviewed with you. You see the trend.
A license is where our training starts, not where it ends.
Every clinician is state-licensed before they see a single client. Then they train with us across every modality, and how to match one to the problem in front of them.
What clients say
4.95 averagefrom 113 reviews
- 5 out of 5 stars
MindView Therapy has great customer service and is very flexible, with good therapist availability and clear communication of any changes. Genuinely a great place for therapy with zero judgement.
Kailani M.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The support staff was very helpful in assisting me to find the right provider. And the provider they found me is personable, a good listener, has good advice, and appears to be quite knowledgeable. I'm very happy with my decision to go with MindView.
Kevin R.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I truly felt seen, heard and understood by my therapist. Goals and next step expectations were clearly explained for processing.
Diane S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I had a great onboarding experience with MindView. My therapist took the time to do a really thorough intake, which I appreciated, and the staff keeps communication clear and consistent. Plus, they handled my insurance verification hassle free.
Jennifer P.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I'm new to this therapy place, however the couples therapist we are seeing is amazing so far. She's a great listener and I can't wait to see how much further we can get with her guidance.
Maritza M.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Great therapists, excellent customer service.
Meta
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
My therapist has been incredibly supportive and compassionate. She creates a safe, welcoming space, and I truly feel heard and understood. I'm very grateful for her guidance. Highly recommend.
Laura S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The clinician is helpful. I would recommend this to my friends. I can communicate better with my family members. Thanks for your cooperation.
Sharmin S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The process to find a therapist was very smooth and quick. The intake did take some time, but it was a very thorough process. Overall a great service and very helpful.
Jorge Z.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Helpful, and they let you know everything in advance.
Naphtali S.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
MindView Therapy has been wonderful to work with. The team is kind, responsive, and made the entire process feel easy from the start. I always felt heard and supported, and I really appreciate the compassionate care I've received. Highly recommend.
Angela D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I've had a great experience with MindView. They are easy to communicate with and handle my needs quickly. I've had some great sessions with my therapist and would highly recommend checking them out.
Kylah B.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
My therapist has done a great job of teaching me how to translate my thoughts into personal feelings, as well as helpful techniques to deal with my anxiety.
Ladale N.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I cannot say enough good things about my counselor. From the very start she made me feel heard, respected, and supported without judgement. She is a great listener and challenges me to grow in healthy ways.
Barbara D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
She is such a great therapist. She really listens to what you are saying and helps you figure out situations.
Leah D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
The process from start to finish is made so easy. You get assigned to someone quickly and can choose from various time slots to work around your schedule. No sitting on a phone waiting, just quick and to the point with every step.
Shannon G.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I've had such a positive experience with MindView Therapy. The sessions have given me so much clarity and practical tools to handle life's ups and downs. I feel more equipped and confident moving forward. If you are looking for a supportive and insightful therapy experience, I highly recommend them.
Lucie L.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
She is an amazing therapist. She understands me and where I am coming from without hesitation. It is a complete judgement-free zone.
Barbie Z.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
I've had a really wonderful experience at MindView. My therapist is a great listener and always made me feel heard and understood. I've seen meaningful progress. Would recommend.
Manana D.
Verified review
- 5 out of 5 stars
Kind, helpful, and good at what they do! My therapist is truly one-of-a-kind, and has helped me so much.
Nick B.
Verified review
Compassion focused therapy, or CFT, helps you build a warmer and steadier relationship with yourself. It was designed for people whose inner voice is harsh, because a critical mind keeps the body in a constant threat state. Through guided exercises, you strengthen your capacity to soothe and support yourself.
Might this approach fit you?
- You would never speak to a friend the way you speak to yourself.
- You have learned CBT skills but the inner critic just uses them against you.
- You feel shame more often than sadness, and it is hard to name out loud.
- You push hard, achieve things, and feel nothing when you do.
- You want to be kinder to yourself and it feels fake or undeserved when you try.
- You can calm other people down and cannot do it for yourself.
You do not have to be in crisis to start. If several of these sound familiar, therapy can help.
If this sounds like the support you want, we can help.
Choose a time and send your request. It takes about 30 seconds and one short form.
Compassion focused therapy (CFT) helps you build a kinder, steadier relationship with yourself. It was developed for people who feel a lot of shame and self-criticism, which can keep anxiety and low mood going. The idea is direct: when your inner voice is harsh, your mind reads it as a threat, and you stay on edge.
What are the three emotion systems?
CFT describes three systems that shape how you feel. The threat system scans for danger and produces anxiety, anger, and shame. It is fast, loud, and hard to ignore, because its job is to keep you alive.
The drive system pushes you toward goals, achievement, and reward. It feels like motivation and excitement. It is useful, and on its own it never settles.
The soothing system is the one that lets you feel safe, calm, and connected. It comes online through warmth and care, from others and from yourself. Many people who struggle with shame have a strong threat system, a strong drive system, and almost no practice with the third. CFT works to build it.
What actually happens in a CFT session?
You start by talking about the critic: what it says, when it started, and what it is trying to do. The critic is usually a protector that learned the wrong job. Understanding that changes how you relate to it.
Then you practice. CFT uses guided exercises, often called compassionate mind training. That may include soothing rhythm breathing, imagery of a compassionate figure, or writing yourself a letter from the part of you that is wise and warm. These are trainable capacities, not personality traits you either have or do not.
Sessions move between the two. Talking builds understanding. Practice builds the system. Neither alone does much.
The structure around the work is the same for every client. Your first session is an intake. The early sessions widen out into your history and produce a treatment plan the two of you write together. After that, weekly sessions do the work, and once a month you review progress using standardized measures.
Is compassion just letting myself off the hook?
This objection comes up almost every time, and it is worth answering carefully. Compassion in CFT is not indulgence. It is the willingness to face suffering and do something about it. That takes courage, and it is often harder than criticism.
Self-criticism feels productive because it is loud. But it runs on threat, and threat narrows thinking, drains energy, and makes avoidance more likely. Shame is a poor engine. It moves you, and it burns the fuel tank.
The practical test is simple. If the critic worked, you would already be where you want to be.
Is CFT backed by research?
CFT was developed by clinical psychologist Paul Gilbert and draws on evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, and cognitive behavioral science. It has a growing evidence base for shame, self-criticism, anxiety, depression, and eating concerns. The Compassionate Mind Foundation maintains the research and training resources for the model.
The evidence is younger than CBT’s, and that is worth saying plainly. CFT is best understood as evidence-informed and actively researched, not as a fully settled first-line protocol for every condition. At MindView it is most often used alongside CBT rather than in place of it.
For an overview of the wider psychotherapy landscape, the National Institute of Mental Health publishes one.
Who is CFT a good fit for?
CFT tends to fit people who have already learned CBT skills and found that the critic simply uses those skills as new evidence against them. It fits people who feel shame more readily than sadness. It fits high achievers who have never once felt satisfied.
It is often paired with work on low self-esteem, perfectionism, burnout, and the aftermath of childhood trauma.
It is not a first-line choice for acute crisis, active PTSD symptoms, or conditions with a more targeted protocol. Your therapist will say so if a different approach should come first.
Why does self-compassion feel so hard at first?
Because for many people it is unfamiliar, and unfamiliar can feel unsafe. If warmth was scarce or conditional growing up, the mind can read kindness as a setup. Compassion can trigger the very threat system it is meant to calm. That reaction has a name in CFT, and it is expected rather than a sign you are doing it wrong.
Your therapist will slow down when this happens. You do not have to feel warm toward yourself to start practicing. You only have to be willing to try the exercise, notice what comes up, and bring it back to the room.
How do I start CFT at MindView?
Book online at choose your therapist or call (646) 493-4007. We see adults 18 and over in Queens and Buffalo, and sessions are conducted by telehealth.
We are in-network with most major insurance plans and confirm your coverage before your first session. You do not need a diagnosis. You only need to be tired of the way you talk to yourself.
At a glance
| Best suited for | People whose main obstacle is shame or a harsh inner critic, especially when other approaches have been hard to apply. |
|---|---|
| What sessions look like | A conversation about where the critic shows up, followed by a guided exercise such as breathing, imagery, or compassionate letter writing. |
| Typical length | Often 12 to 20 sessions, though it depends on your goals and how deep the self-criticism runs. |
What can it help with?
- •Harsh self-criticism and shame
- •Anxiety and chronic worry
- •Depression and low mood
- •Low self-esteem
- •Stress and burnout
Who might it suit?
- •People who are hard on themselves
- •Those who feel shame or self-blame
- •Anyone wanting a warmer, steadier inner voice
What we use it to treat
What does therapy here actually look like?
The first three sessions follow a clear structure, so you always know what is coming next.
- The first stretch
Your therapist asks what brought you in, your history, and what you want to change. You rate the intensity of what you are feeling on a 0 to 10 scale, and that rating becomes the baseline. Your therapist also walks through your life across stages. CFT listens for where the harsh inner voice was learned, what shame is protecting you from, and how much of your life is run by threat rather than by safeness. You and your therapist build the plan together. Goals name the CFT methods that will be used: understanding the threat, drive, and soothing systems, soothing rhythm breathing, compassionate imagery, and building a compassionate self that can speak to you differently. You also set one personal goal that matters to you.
- Ongoing
Weekly sessions practice these skills on the moments where self-criticism actually fires, and you use them between sessions. Once a month you and your therapist review progress using standardized measures, and the plan is adjusted based on what they show.
Therapy here is measured, not guessed
Once a month you have a measurement-based care review. You complete standardized measures, and your therapist reviews the trend with you. If something is not working, the plan changes. Regular therapy is the work. The review is the navigation system that keeps it pointed at the right target.
Sessions are weekly for the first two months to build a foundation, then frequency is reassessed with you. You set the pace, and you share only what you are comfortable sharing.
You do not have to figure this out alone.
Choose a time and send your request. It takes about 30 seconds and one short form.
Common questions
Is CFT covered by insurance?
We are in-network with most major plans. In New York: UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Medicare, Oscar Health, Meritain Health, Oxford Health Plans, Cigna, Optum, Highmark BCBS WNY, Univera Healthcare and MagnaCare. We confirm your benefits before your first session.
What happens in the first CFT session?
Your therapist asks about the critical voice, when it started, and what it costs you. Nothing is required beyond talking. You leave with a shared understanding of what the work would look like.
How long does CFT take, and does it work?
Many people work over several months, though it depends on your goals. CFT has a growing research base for shame, self-criticism, anxiety, and depression. That describes the evidence, not a promise about your result.
Do I need a diagnosis to start CFT?
No. Many people come to CFT without any diagnosis, simply because they are exhausted by how hard they are on themselves.
Can I do CFT by telehealth, and how soon can I start?
Yes. The exercises translate well to secure video, and sessions are conducted by telehealth. We are accepting new clients and respond within one business day.
Is self-compassion just letting myself off the hook?
No. Compassion in CFT includes the courage to face what is hard and do something about it. It is a steadier engine than shame, not a softer one.
Do I have to be religious or spiritual to try CFT?
No. CFT draws on the science of emotion regulation and attachment. It is secular and does not require any particular belief.
How do I get started?
- 1
Check your insurance
Most major plans are accepted, and checking takes under a minute.
See if we take your insurance - 2
- 3
Meet your therapist
Your first session is an intake. Your therapist asks what brought you in, and you set a weekly time together.
Our locations
Take the first step
You do not have to figure this out alone. Booking takes about 30 seconds.