Understand Yourself
Develop Compassion
Change Your Life
My work brings together psychology, research and compassion to help people understand themselves, navigate life's challenges and create meaningful change.
worldwide
Understanding Ourselves Can Change Everything
Understanding ourselves is one of the most important journeys we can take. The way we think, feel and respond to the world is shaped by our biology, our experiences and the relationships we have had throughout our lives.
My work brings together psychology, research and compassion to help people make sense of these patterns and find new ways of responding to life's challenges.
Shame
Understanding feelings of inadequacy, defectiveness and not being good enough, and how shame can shape the way we see ourselves and relate to others.
Explore MoreSelf-Criticism
Exploring why we can become our own harshest critics, and developing a different relationship with our mistakes, difficulties and perceived shortcomings.
Explore MoreImposter Syndrome
Working with persistent feelings of inadequacy, fears of being exposed and the sense that we are not as capable as others believe.
Explore MoreSelf-Compassion
Developing the ability to respond to ourselves with understanding, courage and care, particularly when life is difficult.
Explore MoreHow I Can Help
My work spans therapy, professional development, leadership and practical resources for personal growth.
Therapy & Coaching
Compassion-focused approaches to understanding emotional difficulties, changing unhelpful patterns and developing a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Explore Therapy & Coaching 2 / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTTraining
Training in Compassion Focused Therapy and compassion-based approaches for psychologists, therapists and other professionals.
Explore Training 3 / ORGANISATIONSLeadership
Bringing psychological understanding and compassion into leadership, teams and organisations to support healthier and more effective ways of working.
Explore Leadership 4 / PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTSelf-Help
Books, courses and practical resources to help you understand your mind, work with difficult emotions and develop self-compassion.
Explore Self-HelpDr Chris Irons
I am a clinical psychologist, researcher, author and international teacher specialising in Compassion Focused Therapy and self-compassion.
For more than 20 years, I have worked to develop psychological approaches that help people understand their emotional lives, work with suffering and develop greater compassion for themselves and others.
My work brings together clinical practice, research, teaching and writing. I have taught professionals internationally, contributed to the development of Compassion Focused Therapy and co-developed resources that make compassion-based approaches more accessible.
My aim is to make psychological understanding and compassion useful, relevant and accessible in everyday life.
More About MeBringing Compassion to Life
Combining research, clinical experience and international teaching to support meaningful change.
Clinical Psychology
Applying psychological understanding to emotional difficulties, relationships, shame and self-criticism.
Research and Writing
Contributing to the evidence base for compassion and developing accessible resources grounded in psychology.
International Teaching
Supporting professionals and organisations to understand and apply compassion-based approaches.
Compassion Is More Than Being Kind to Ourselves
Compassion involves recognising suffering and developing the courage, wisdom and commitment to respond in ways that help.
In Compassion Focused Therapy, we draw on our understanding of how the human mind has evolved, how emotions work and how our experiences shape the ways we relate to ourselves and others.
This gives us practical ways to work with difficult emotions, reduce self-criticism, develop emotional resilience and build a more supportive relationship with ourselves.
Explore My Work
Discover more about compassion, psychology and the practical application of Compassion Focused Therapy.
Books
Explore books on compassion, emotional difficulties, self-criticism and developing a more compassionate relationship with yourself and others.
Explore BooksResearch
Read about the psychological science behind compassion, Compassion Focused Therapy and approaches to working with emotional suffering.
Explore ResearchArticles and Ideas
Reflections, insights and practical ideas about psychology, compassion, relationships and understanding ourselves.
Read ArticlesLet's Start a Conversation
Whether you are looking for psychological support, professional training, collaboration or opportunities to bring compassion into your organisation, I would be pleased to hear from you.
Get in Touch