Shame is one of the most corrosive emotions that people experience. It is like cancer. First you there is a “tumour,” perhaps it comes, initially, from a severe scolding by a parent or teacher, along with a breaking of connection and a rupture of trust. The shame then “metastasizes” and spreads - affecting the entire organism, collapsing the body, polluting the psyche, and undermining our basic sense of wellbeing.

Shame is associated with a very specific body posture and autonomic pattern. It is a pattern which is similar to those we see in trauma, including hyper-arousal, hypo-arousal and shutdown. The opposite body experience of shame is the direct experience of the somatic/autonomic posture of triumph and pride. It is physiologically impossible to experience shame while one has a rooted and embodied sense of pride. Utilizing this dynamic relationship, within the context of a therapeutic alliance, shame can be transformed to a core sense of dignity and self-compassion. This integrative process is essential for promoting overall health and wellbeing.

Work with shame requires learnable skills of body reading, tracking physiology, and a therapeutic understanding of interpersonal dynamics. Participants will have the opportunity to practice how to help client’s move from shame and into triumph, pride and mastery, along with a renewed sense of dignity and Self-hood.

This class is in English and will be translated into French