Guilt & Shame

Shame is an intensely painful emotion, often associated with the belief that one is flawed and therefore unworthy of connection and belonging.  While Guilt says “I have done something wrong”, Shame is speaking “there is something wrong with me”. When we experience guilt or shame, it is common to try to escape, avoid, or deny the emotion.  Shame and guilt have both been associated with addiction, depression, anxiety, and co-occurring mental health disorders.

According to Brené Brown, author of shame resilience theory and its evidence-based curriculum, The Daring Way, shame is a silent epidemic: the more we keep it secret, the firmer its hold on us.  However, “If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame cannot survive” (Brown, Brené. Daring Greatly. Avery, 2012.)

Therapy that is specifically focused on working through guilt and shame is designed to create a safe and empathetic space for you to be open about your struggles, to help you recognize where guilt and shame are dictating your thoughts and actions and instead move toward greater empathy and self-compassion. During the process, you will learn strategies to identify guilt/shame triggers, deflect shaming messages from families, workplaces, communities and culture and begin to experience vulnerability as a gift and tool toward building more resiliency and connection.