Compassionate Inquiry Therapy in Albuquerque, NM

Compassionate Inquiry counseling at Sandia Therapy and Wellness Center connects you with a therapist to explore, reflect, and heal.

Compassionate Inquiry, developed by Dr. Gabor Maté, gently helps you explore the emotions and beliefs that shape your experiences and behaviors. In sessions with a trained therapist or counselor, you'll uncover internal patterns and move toward healing with compassion and clarity. At Sandia Therapy and Wellness Center in Albuquerque, this approach is offered in a safe, welcoming space where self-awareness can grow. Compassionate Inquiry supports those seeking deeper understanding and lasting emotional change.

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What the Experts Say About Compassionate Inquiry

Trauma & the Body's Role in Healing


As Compassionate Inquiry practitioners, one of the first things we pay attention to is how a client’s past trauma may be showing up in their body.


Compassionate Inquiry emphasizes that trauma, especially from early life, often gets stored in the body, manifesting as emotional and psychological patterns that persist into adulthood.


Instead of just focusing on changing thoughts or behaviors, we work with clients to uncover the ways their bodies hold onto these experiences.


Click here to learn more on the Compassionate Inquiry website.

Compassionate Inquiry FAQs: Understanding the Process and Principles

Compassionate Inquiry is a gentle, insight-based therapy that helps uncover what’s beneath the surface. These FAQs explain how this approach supports healing and how therapy in Albuquerque can guide you toward greater self-awareness and care.

  • What is the Compassionate Inquiry method?

    Compassionate Inquiry is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté. It helps uncover the deeper emotional patterns and unconscious beliefs behind mental health struggles. The focus is on creating safety, presence, and understanding as the foundation for healing.

  • What type of therapy is Compassionate Inquiry?

    Compassionate Inquiry is a trauma-informed, body-aware form of talk therapy. It blends elements of mindfulness, attachment theory, and somatic awareness. At Sandia Therapy and Wellness Center in Albuquerque, this method is used to gently explore the root causes of emotional pain.

  • What are the 5 levels of compassion in Gabor Maté?

    While Dr. Maté speaks deeply about compassion, the five levels often referred to include:

    • Awareness of suffering
    • Emotional resonance
    • A desire to relieve suffering
    • Taking action
    • Extending compassion to oneself and others

    These principles guide the tone and depth of Compassionate Inquiry.

  • What are the four key elements of compassion-focused therapy?

    Though a separate approach from Compassionate Inquiry, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) includes:

    • Mindfulness
    • Self-kindness
    • Common humanity
    • Balanced emotional thinking

    Both methods encourage healing through understanding and gentle connection with self.

  • How does compassion therapy work?

    Compassion-based therapy works by helping clients understand and accept their experiences without judgment. It focuses on building safety, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. With support from a trained therapist, clients learn to respond to pain with curiosity and care, not shame or avoidance.

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