When Your Inner Critic Shows Up: Understanding the Protection behind the Criticism
A Free Learning Lab for Pet Professionals
Rescheduled for July 21, 2026, 7:00-8:00 pm ET via Zoom
Your local time:
You know that voice.
The one that says you should have handled that case differently. That other pet pros — real ones — wouldn't have hesitated. That your clients would be shocked to know how often you second-guess yourself.
If you're like many pet professionals, your inner critic may be one of your most constant companions. And you've probably tried to argue with it, ignore it, or push through it — only to find it waiting for you on the other side.
Here's something that might shift how you see it: your inner critic isn't trying to sabotage you. It's trying to protect you. The criticism, however harsh, often carries an intention that once made sense — even if it stopped being helpful a long time ago.
In this learning lab, we'll explore
- What the inner critic is actually doing — and why understanding its protective role changes everything
- How the same voice that criticizes you may once have kept you safe — and why that matters now
- What it looks and feels like when the critic quiets — even temporarily
- How to work with this part of yourself rather than against it
This isn't about silencing the critic or replacing it with affirmations. It's about understanding what's underneath — and discovering that you may have more self-trust available to you than that voice would have you believe.
How we'll spend the hour
Learning labs are all about conversation, connection, and self-discovery.
We'll start with some brief teaching on what the inner critic is and why it develops. Then we'll move into discussion and a guided experience to help you recognize your own patterns — not as problems to fix, but as information worth understanding.
We'll close by exploring what becomes possible when you approach the critic with curiosity instead of resistance.
About Colleen Pelar, PCC
I'm Colleen Pelar, a professional certified coach who spent nearly 30 years as a dog trainer and certified behavior consultant before becoming a coach for pet professionals.
I understand what it's like to hold yourself to an impossible standard while pouring everything into work you care about. I've spent years helping pet professionals recognize the protective patterns beneath their self-criticism — not by silencing the inner critic, but by understanding what it's actually trying to do.
My approach is grounded in positive psychology, nervous system awareness, and a deep respect for why we develop the patterns we do. I don't offer scripts or strategies to think your way out of self-doubt. Instead, I help you understand what's underneath — so you can meet yourself with a little more curiosity and a little less judgment.
Join Us
When: Tuesday, July 21, 7-8 pm ET
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Duration: 60 minutes
Cost: Free—my gift to the pet professional community
The Details
Recording? Yes, register, and you’ll get access to the recording for 7 days after the session.
Sales Pitch? No. Although I offer coaching and group programs, there's nothing to buy in this learning lab. If you get to know me and my approach and want deeper support, you can always explore working together at a future time.
When you register, you subscribe. You'll receive a few emails from me covering topics relevant to pet professionals navigating burnout and building self-trust, so you can get a sense of who I am and whether I can help you. You'll also receive my weekly Helping Yourself to Help Others notes as a subscriber (which you can unsubscribe from at any time).
In addition, you'll receive session-specific emails with the Zoom link, calendar link, any resources related to the learning lab, the recording afterward, and a few gentle reminders that the session is happening.