As therapists, we know just how transformative it can be for clients to explore their shadow side. But that’s often a hard ask – because the thing is, most clients would do anything to avoid talking about (or even acknowledging) the parts of themselves that they’re ashamed or afraid of. So in the video below, […]
Working with Feelings of Defectiveness and Shame – with Ron Siegel, PsyD
Shame is one of the most universal human emotions we experience. It can also be one of the most painful. And when feelings of shame become chronic, some clients start to believe that they are somehow defective or flawed – sometimes beyond repair. So in the video below, Ron Siegel, PsyD, shares a few strategies […]
A Polyvagal Approach to Working with Shame – with Stephen Porges, PhD
According to Stephen Porges, PhD, some of our traditional psychotherapeutic approaches to working with shame may inadvertently amplify it. So in the video below, Stephen outlines a Polyvagal approach that can help us avoid reinforcing shame, and instead, resource clients to regulate themselves as they process that shame. Have a look. Click here for […]
Working with Trauma-Induced Shame – with Bessel van der Kolk, MD
When we begin to work through a client’s trauma history, shame can sometimes bring the therapeutic process to a standstill. So, how do we help clients begin to unpack deep layers of shame without halting their progress? In the clip below, Bessel van der Kolk, MD gets into a parts approach for working with trauma-induced […]
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, On Trauma-Induced Shame
Trauma can leave clients with deep, debilitating feelings of shame. And for clients who experienced trauma in early childhood, those feelings may have shaped their self-narrative for years. So in the video below, Bessel van der Kolk, MD shares how he approaches trauma-induced shame that stems from childhood trauma. Have a look. […]