Feeling Stuck in a Painful Loop?
Have you ever promised yourself that things would be different, only to find yourself repeating the same behaviour?
Whether it’s reaching for a drink, overspending, pulling away from relationships, or quietly giving up on a goal, self-sabotage can feel like an exhausting cycle with no exit.
You’re not alone, and you are not broken.
The Reframe Your Life program offers a structured, trauma-informed pathway to interrupt self-sabotage. Rather than a quick motivational push, it is a 13-week therapeutic journey that explores what drives your behaviour and provides tools for lasting change.
Important Disclaimer:
The content of this blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a qualified health professional. Participation in therapy involves commitment, and outcomes vary according to individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Considering a structured path to change can bring up many questions. Here, we address common queries about the Reframe Your Life program to help you understand what to expect.
Q1: What makes this program different from standard therapy?
Reframe Your Life program provides a time-limited, highly structured integration of ACT, EFIT, Schema Therapy, and experiential exercises tailored to your goals. Many clients appreciate having a clear roadmap rather than an open-ended process.
Q2: Is the program worth the cost?
The fee reflects the depth of clinical expertise, preparation, and resources included (structured tools, workbooks, between-session support). Payment plans are offered to enhance accessibility.
Q3: I’m unsure I can commit to 13 weeks, what if I start and struggle?
It’s normal to feel uncertain. The intake session helps determine fit, and you’ll co-create a plan that respects your pace. If challenges arise, they’re addressed within the program, setbacks are viewed as learning opportunities rather than failures.
Q4: Will I be required to discuss traumatic events in detail?
No. You control what and when you share. Emotional safety and consent are foundational to the therapeutic approach.
Q5: What happens if I relapse during the program?
Relapse-prevention planning is built in. If a lapse occurs, we process it without judgment, refine coping strategies, and recommit to your values.
What Is Self-Sabotage and Why Does It Happen?
Self-sabotage occurs when our actions work against our own stated intentions, for example, wanting connection but picking fights, or wanting stability yet undermining a job.
Research suggests these behaviours often begin as coping strategies for trauma, emotional pain, or unmet needs (Baumeister & Scher, 1988; van der KolK, 2014). They may provide short-term relief, but over time they deepen shame and disconnection.
The Reframe Your Life program looks beneath the surface: when did the pattern start, why does it persist, and what can sustainably replace it?
Begin Healing from Trauma
Every self-sabotaging action has a back-story. Unresolved trauma, emotional overwhelm, and learned shame can fuel addiction, avoidance, or emotional shutdown.
In the program you will explore root causes in a safe, respectful space, drawing on Schema Therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Memory Reconsolidation principles.
The goal is to develop compassionate insight so you can respond differently when life feels hard.
Reclaim a Sense of Power
Self-sabotage can leave you feeling powerless. This program is designed to help you explore your internal resources, clarify values, and build emotional regulation skills, moving from self-punishment toward self-leadership.
Find Clarity & Purpose
Reframe Your Life program is not only about stopping what harms you; it’s about making space for what matters. Later modules focus on values, goal-setting, relapse-prevention planning, and building supportive networks that align with who you are becoming.
While the program offers a comprehensive framework, meaningful change requires commitment and effort. Outcomes vary according to individual circumstances.
Program Structure at a Glance
This is a 13-week intensive therapeutic program designed to provide a comprehensive framework to support behavioural change.
The journey includes:
- A 90-minute intake session to explore your personal goals and conduct a biopsychosocial assessment
- 13 weekly sessions (75 minutes each) focused on emotional processing, skill development, and experiential therapy
- Tools and frameworks from ACT, EFIT, Schema Therapy, mindfulness, and more
- Weekly themes structured across three core phases:
Module 1: UNCOVER
(Understanding the cycles, patterns, and their origins)
- Intake and goal setting
- Trauma and how it shapes behaviour
- Exploring shame, anger, and emotional avoidance
- Building emotional awareness and resilience
- Identifying core beliefs and unhelpful patterns
Module 2: DISCOVER
(Who you are, where you are wounded, and how to heal)
- Breaking behavioural cycles
- Relationship with self and internal dialogue
- Relationship with others and attachment dynamics
- Inner child healing and self-compassion
Module 3: RECOVER
(Build resilience, prevent relapse, and sustain long-term change)
- Strengthening resilience
- Relapse prevention and emotional self-awareness
- Creating recovery capital and personal stability
- Review, integration, and aftercare planning
Who Might Benefit?
This program may suit you if:
- You feel stuck in destructive or addictive patterns.
- Your emotional reactions don’t match your values.
- You have a history of trauma, shame, or disconnection and want to understand its impact.
- You’re willing to engage in a structured therapeutic process, even if you feel apprehensive.
You do not have to wait until things get worse; change begins with the next step.
Fees & Optional Legal Support
- Total cost: AU $3,250 + GST (AU $3,575)
10 % discount for upfront payment; flexible plans available. - Fee covers all session materials and tailored support.
- Collaboration with solicitors and preparation of clinical reports for court matters can be arranged (additional fees apply).
Clinical reports provide insight into therapeutic progress but do not guarantee any specific legal outcome.
About Dr Ingrid McGuffog
Dr Ingrid McGuffog is a Clinical Criminologist and Psychotherapist with a PhD (Crim.) and a Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy. A Certified Practising Member of PACFA, she blends academic expertise with 18 years of lived experience in addiction and trauma recovery to deliver compassionate, structured care.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re tired of repeating the same patterns and looking for structured, compassionate support, Reframe Your Life program may help.
If you’re caught in a cycle of self-sabotage and ready to step into something different, the Reframe Your Life program offers the structured, compassionate support you may be looking for. Change is possible, even if it hasn’t felt that way before. If this program feels like the right fit, get in touch Today to take the next step.
References & Resources
- Baumeister, R. F., & Scher, S. J. (1988). Self-defeating behavior patterns: Beyond self-handicapping. Psychological Bulletin, 103(1), 5-22.
- van der KolK, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.