Chapter 7 of the EC book, Acceptance, discusses the various unconscious, mental tendencies we fall into that lead to suppression of feelings. To become aware of these tendencies is not particularly a mental activity, but an intellectual activity - a different plane of being. Becoming aware is the first step to change. As we become aware, the previously unconscious mental tendency - let's say it's perfectionism - automatically starts to lessen. But it would probably be a mistake (and maybe another perfectionist impulse) to want to stamp out all the counter-productive mental behaviorisms with a mental effort. Just becoming aware, and making a reasonable effort to modify undesirable mental/behavioral patterns as best you can even though it's not 100% would be enough, and then you go to the feelings. As the feelings release, the mental patterns also release.