Meet Your Council of Critics
A Three-Week Online Journalling Group
11–25 August 2026
Three online gatherings with gentle daily journalling prompts between sessions.
An Invitation
Most of us know the voice of the Inner Critic.
It tells us to work harder, get it right, stay in control, fit in, or never make mistakes.
Over time these voices become so familiar that we mistake them for the truth. We don’t just hear them—we become them.
One of the biggest shifts in this work is learning to see these voices rather than automatically believing them. To take what Zen practice calls the backward step—to become aware of the one who is listening.
As we begin to notice the critic, something changes.
A little space opens up.
Enough space to become curious.
Enough space to discover that these voices are not who we are.
Inspired by Freedom from Your Inner Critic by Jay Earley and Bonnie Weiss, this journey explores what I like to call the Council of Critics—an inner committee of protective parts, each convinced its strategy is the best way to keep us safe.
Rather than trying to silence these voices or get rid of them, we’ll learn to become curious about them.
Because every critic has a job.
Every critic is trying to protect you.
And every critic has a story.
Meet Your Council
Together we’ll get to know seven familiar critics:
- The Perfectionist
- The Driver (Taskmaster)
- The Inner Controller
- The Underminer
- The Destroyer
- The Guilt Tripper
- The Chameleon
As the weeks unfold you’ll begin recognising which critics are most active in your own life, what they are trying to protect, and how they came to take on these roles.
Why Journalling?
Writing creates space.
Instead of becoming caught inside these voices, we begin relating to them differently.
Between our online gatherings you’ll receive a simple daily journalling prompt that takes around 5–10 minutes.
Not homework.
An experiment.
An opportunity to notice which critic is present, what it fears, and what happens when we respond with curiosity instead of judgement.
Together we’ll explore questions like:
- Which critic has been running the meeting this week?
- What is it trying to protect?
- When did it first begin its job?
- What happens when I simply notice rather than react?
- What changes when I stop believing everything my inner critic tells me?
There are no right answers.
Only an invitation to become more aware of your inner world.
Before We Begin
Before our first gathering you’ll complete a short Inner Critic Profile (around 5–10 minutes).
The profile helps identify which members of your Council of Critics are most active and provides a starting point for your journey.
What to Expect
The journey includes:
🌿 Three live online gatherings (75 minutes each)
🌿 Gentle daily journalling prompts
🌿 A private WhatsApp group for the duration of the journey
🌿 Guided reflections inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS)
🌿 A simple, compassionate approach to understanding your inner world
No previous journalling experience is needed.
Only a willingness to become curious.
By the End of the Journey
You’ll leave with:
🌿 A clearer map of your own Council of Critics
🌿 Greater awareness of the protective patterns beneath self-criticism
🌿 A simple journalling practice you can continue using
🌿 Practical ways of recognising when you’ve become blended with a critic
🌿 A more compassionate relationship with yourself
Journey Schedule
🌿 Opening Circle
Tuesday 11 August 2026
Meeting the Council of Critics
🌿 Middle Circle
Tuesday 18 August 2026
Listening to What the Critics Protect
🌿 Closing Circle
Tuesday 25 August 2026
Living with Greater Awareness and Choice
Session Time
South Africa (SAST)
6:00–7:15 PM
Central Europe (CEST)
6:00–7:15 PM
US Pacific (PDT)
9:00–10:15 AM
Contribution
International
Suggested contribution US$50–100
South Africa
Suggested contribution R700–R1,000
If the suggested contribution isn’t possible, please get in touch and we’ll make a plan.
Is This Group for You?
This group is for anyone who recognises the harsh inner voice that criticises, pushes, compares, controls, or never quite lets them rest.
You don’t need to be “good” at journalling.
You don’t need to fix yourself.
You simply need a willingness to become curious about the voices inside and what they have been trying to protect.
Ready to Meet Your Council of Critics?
If this journey speaks to you, I’d love to have you join us.
Complete the registration form below to reserve your place. You’ll find contribution options, payment details, and everything you need to get started there.
Before our first gathering, I’ll send you your Inner Critic Profile along with an invitation to our temporary WhatsApp group, which we’ll use to share daily journalling prompts and stay connected for the duration of the journey.