Why do some people take criticism so personally?
The clinic’s post on the topic gives several reasons rather than one. Negative self-talk and low self-esteem make a harsh comment easier to believe. Anxiety, especially social anxiety, raises the fear of judgement or embarrassment. General stress makes anyone more sensitive to feedback. Perfectionism makes it hard to hear about a flaw, because the standards were set unrealistically high. The post also says neglect or a lack of emotional support in childhood can sometimes make blame feel familiar.
You may recognise yourself in more than one reason. The individual therapy page says each clinician adapts the approach to the client’s presenting issues, so a first job in therapy is finding out which reasons apply to you.
What does personalisation sound like in your head?
Take the post’s example. A colleague criticises the team’s work in a meeting, and you hear “they must be talking about me” or “they must think I am not good enough”. Teamwork was the subject of the comment. Your thought added the target.
The cost is practical. When you personalise criticism, the line between your actions and your worth blurs, which feeds self-doubt and anxiety. Criticism can also stir anger, irritability and defensiveness, and such reactions cloud your ability to judge whether the feedback has any merit.
Which techniques help you stop taking criticism personally?
The post offers three starting points. First, separate the action from yourself: criticism addresses something specific you did, not your entire worth. Second, use I.C.E. Identify the negative thoughts the feedback set off. Call the thought what it is by naming the distortion behind it. Then explore whether it holds up by looking for facts and disputing it. Third, adopt a growth mindset, which treats your abilities and skills as something you develop over time.
Self-help reading on I.C.E. is a fair place to start. The harder part is catching the distortion in the moment, and a therapist can help you practise on real examples from your week. On the clinic’s CBT page, CBT is a structured therapy focused on the link between thoughts, emotions and behaviours, which sits close to how I.C.E. works. In its FAQ, the clinic adds a point on homework: CBT may include tasks between sessions, which it calls as important as the session itself.
Which therapies might a therapist in Dubai use?
The individual therapy page lists CBT, ACT, narrative exposure therapy, trauma-focused therapies, EMDR, emotion-focused therapy, compassion-focused therapy and psychodynamic approaches. Per the FAQ, a therapist may combine techniques depending on the condition, your response and any new information as it emerges. The site ties no single method to taking things personally, so the choice follows your assessment.
Self-esteem issues, anxiety and relationship difficulties appear on the same page among the concerns individual therapy addresses. If replaying comments is disrupting your daily routine, your work or your relationships, a first consultation can sort out what sits behind it.
What happens at a first appointment?
The clinic says you meet a mental health professional who assesses your needs and develops a personalised treatment plan. What follows depends on the outcome: the clinician schedules a follow-up, refers you to a colleague or makes recommendations. You do not need to prepare unless you receive forms or questionnaires, and the clinic asks only for a willingness to share and to listen.
Book a first consultation with a therapist in Dubai
The individual therapy page says the clinic’s system helps identify the most suitable clinician for each person, and the coordinator works with you to find an appointment to fit your schedule. Read about individual therapy at The Valens Clinic or email info@thevalensclinic.ae. Every clinician holds a licence from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the Community Development Authority (CDA).