At the heart of every human being lies an essential wholeness—a presence untouched by pain, trauma, or conditioning. Yet, life experiences can cover this essence with layers of protection, old stories, and deeply embedded patterns.
Core Process Psychotherapy (CPP) is a form of mindfulness-based psychotherapy that gently supports us to come into contact with our present-moment experience. It is less about analysing or fixing and more about uncovering the innate wisdom already within.
In the safe container of a therapeutic relationship, CPP invites curiosity, compassion, and awareness to unfold.
(→ Learn more about how I weave psychotherapy with breathwork and somatic work on My Approach.)
What Is Core Process Psychotherapy?
Developed at the Karuna Institute in Devon, CPP combines the depth of Western psychotherapy with the wisdom of Buddhist psychology. It is “core” because it seeks to reconnect us to our essence, and it is a “process” because it honours that healing unfolds over time.
Rather than focusing only on the mind, CPP brings awareness to the whole person—thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and the subtle field of presence that underlies them all.
How Core Process Psychotherapy Works
1. Awareness as the Foundation
Through gentle mindfulness, we bring attention to what is happening right now—whether that is a tightness in the chest, a cascade of thoughts, or a feeling of sadness. Awareness itself begins to loosen the grip of old patterns.
2. Exploring the Layers of Experience
Together, therapist and client follow the thread of what arises, not to judge or change it, but to understand its roots and impact. Memories, images, or sensations may appear, offering insight into what has been held unconsciously.
3. Meeting the Protective Strategies
CPP recognises that defences and survival strategies once had a vital purpose. With compassion, we can explore these strategies, thank them, and gently loosen their hold, making space for new ways of being.
4. Contacting Essence
Beyond the stories and wounds lies a sense of spaciousness, clarity, and belonging. As protective layers soften, many people discover moments of deep peace and connection with their essential nature.
What a Core Process Psychotherapy Session Looks Like
Each session unfolds in dialogue, rooted in presence. Together we may:
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Notice body sensations, emotions, or thoughts as they arise
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Explore relational dynamics in the here-and-now
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Use mindfulness to deepen awareness of subtle experience
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Allow silence and spaciousness when words are not enough
CPP is not about rushing to solutions. It is about cultivating a compassionate space where what is hidden can emerge safely and be met with kindness.
(→ Read more about how sessions feel on Working With You.)
Why Choose Core Process Psychotherapy?
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Depth and gentleness: It allows deep exploration without overwhelm.
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Integrative: It embraces body, mind, and spirit together.
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Trauma-informed: Protective patterns are honoured, not pushed aside.
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Transformative: By resting in awareness, new possibilities naturally unfold.
CPP is particularly supportive for those experiencing anxiety, depression, relational struggles, grief, or a sense of being “stuck.”
How It Works With Breathwork and Somatic Experiencing
In my practice, CPP does not stand alone. It integrates seamlessly with Conscious Connected Breathwork and Somatic Experiencing, allowing us to work at multiple levels:
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Mindfulness and awareness (CPP)
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Nervous system regulation (SE)
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Deep release and opening (Breathwork)
Together, these approaches provide a holistic path—meeting the mind, body, and spirit.
(→ Explore this integrative approach on My Approach.)
Stepping Into Presence
At its heart, Core Process Psychotherapy is an invitation to come home to yourself. To discover that beneath pain and protection lies a spacious awareness that has always been whole.
If you are longing to be more at ease in your body, more present in your relationships, and more connected to life, CPP may offer the path you’ve been searching for.
I offer 1:1 psychotherapy sessions in Frome and online, blending CPP with Somatic Experiencing and Breathwork where appropriate.
(→ Explore Working With You or Contact Me to book a free 30-minute call.)
