Join me on 'Compassion in a T Shirt' with special guest Dr. Allan Zuckoff, a clinical psychologist and expert in motivational interviewing. We dive into the concept of ambivalence, its associated discomfort, and how people often get stuck. And we discover the benefits of ambivalence, including how it can signal the need to slow down and promote resilience. Allan also shares practical tips for navigating ambivalence, such as self-affirmation and exploring core values. This episode is a rich conversation for anyone looking to understand and harness the power of ambivalence in their personal transformation.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:49 Defining Ambivalence

04:36 The Discomfort of Ambivalence

06:25 Ambivalence in Decision Making

08:52 Dialectical Thinking and Ambivalence

13:52 Ambivalence and Uncertainty

27:12 The Cycle of Avoidance and Impulsivity

33:24 Self-Trust and Decision Making

44:27 Benefits of Ambivalence

54:01 Embracing Discomfort and Indecision

54:39 Benefits of Distress Tolerance

55:55 Emotional Resilience and Ambivalence

57:00 Understanding Complicated Grief

59:22 The Role of Ambivalence in Grief

01:03:04 Cognitive and Emotional Ambivalence

01:07:57 Exploring Vertical Ambivalence

01:09:53 Values Card Sort Exercise

01:24:06 Self-Affirmation and Confidence

01:32:08 Practical Takeaways for Handling Ambivalence

01:42:34 Final Thoughts and Reflections

LINKS:

Finding Your Way to Change: How the Power of Motivational Interviewing Can Reveal What You Want and Help You Get There (Zuckoff, 2015)

https://amzn.to/41pHaIs

Allan's recent blog on the topic of ambivalence:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/fueling-the-fire-of-change/202502/what-does-it-mean-to-resolve-ambivalence

If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here:

https://amzn.to/4knPv7h

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Video hashtags:

motivational interviewing, ambivalence, self-compassion, uncertainty, tolerance, change, behaviour,