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Working with Backdraft: Therapist & Client Toolkit
When we invite clients to turn kindness inward, it can sometimes bring pain, shame, or fear to the surface. This paradox, known as backdraft, is not failure — it’s part of the healing process. Yet many therapists feel unsure how to navigate it in-session.
The Working with Backdraft Toolkit is designed to give you practical, compassionate resources you can use immediately in your practice.
What’s Inside the Toolkit
1. Therapist Guide
Clear overview of backdraft and how it shows up in session
Inquiry prompts to deepen exploration with clients
Therapist self-reflection worksheet to support your own process
A full meditation script you can adapt and use flexibly
2. Client Worksheet
Psychoeducation about backdraft using an accessible analogy
Simple steps clients can use when resistance arises
Reflection and practice plan spaces for between-session work
3. Mini Guide: Using Meditation & Inquiry in Therapy
Trauma-informed guidance for introducing practices safely
Tips for pacing, titration, and maintaining agency in-session
4. Downloadable Meditation
A guided practice you can share directly with clients or use to support your own teaching
Why Therapists Love This Toolkit
Grounded in science and compassion-based approaches
Written in clear, client-friendly language
Trauma-sensitive, flexible, and adaptable across modalities
Ready-to-use PDFs and audio — no need to start from scratch
How You Can Use It
In-session: guide a meditation or inquiry conversation
As homework: give clients the worksheet and audio to practice between sessions
For reflection: use the therapist sheet to notice your own responses when backdraft shows up
For teaching: integrate the mini guide into supervision or training discussions
About the Creator
This toolkit was developed by Dr. Amy Finlay-Jones, MClinPsych, MHealthEcon, PhD, a therapist, academic researcher, and international facilitator. Amy has extensive training in self-compassion and mindfulness-based approaches, and brings over 15 years of experience working with individuals, professionals, and organisations.
Her work bridges rigorous science and embodied practice, drawing on her background as both a researcher in mental health and wellbeing and a long-term practitioner and teacher of compassion-focused and mindfulness approaches. Amy is passionate about making evidence-based tools accessible, trauma-sensitive, and usable in the real world of therapeutic practice.
Terms AND CONDITIONS of USE & Licensing Information
Use of this product is bound by our Terms and Conditions. Please select the licensing option that is most appropriate for your needs.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
After checkout, you will be emailed with a .zip file containing your resource bundle.