Externalising the Inner Critic — Your Personal Boggart

Ever feel like your inner critic has way too much power?

Imagine it as your own personal boggart — that fear-shaped creature from Harry Potter that takes the form of what you dread most. For Neville Longbottom, it was Professor Snape… until he cast Riddikulus and turned him into a walking punchline in his grandmother’s clothes. Suddenly, the fear shrank.

This is exactly how externalising your inner critic works in therapy.

That voice in your head — the one that says “you’re not good enough,” “you’re falling behind,” “you should be doing more” — thrives in secrecy. It grows stronger when it’s left unchallenged. But when you name it, visualise it, and speak back to it, you loosen its grip.

🎭 Try giving it a name. Picture it in ridiculous robes with a clipboard, spouting outdated expectations. Then ask yourself:

• What does this voice actually say?
• Who does it remind me of?
• What compassionate or playful response could I offer in return?

Your version of Riddikulus might be a reframe, a boundary, or simply laughter. Because — just like Neville — you’re braver than the voice would have you believe.

🧠 Let’s talk about ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts

These are the sneaky little thoughts that pop into your mind without invitation. They often sound like:

• “I’m such an idiot.”
• “No one really likes me.”
• “I’ll mess this up.”

Sometimes we say them in jest, with a laugh or a shrug. But even when they’re wrapped in humour, they still land. They still shape how we see ourselves, how we show up in relationships, and how we make choices.

ANTS are like emotional termites — small, persistent, and quietly destructive. Left unchecked, they erode our sense of worth and belonging. But when we notice them, name them, and challenge them, we start to reclaim our inner space.

💬 Try this:

• Catch the ANT: “I always mess things up.”
• Challenge it: “Is that really true? What’s the evidence?”
• Reframe it: “I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve also learned and grown.”

You don’t have to banish every negative thought. But you can learn to talk back. You can learn to laugh, to reframe, and to choose a different story.

Because your worth isn’t up for debate — even if your boggart tries to convince you otherwise.

🎥 Watch Neville’s Riddikulus moment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D6BpyNX3GE

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