Understanding and Treating Chronic Shame and Self -Loathing

Shame is a phenomena that is in the brain, the mind, the body and felt in the relational space between therapist and client. It is no surprise that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are a risk factor for shame and that shame is pervasive in dissociated clients. Shame is often hidden from others and by its very nature often avoided in treatment. Before chronic shame can be resolved, the therapist must learn that it has an important function and involves intense physiological activation that often takes the client outside of their window of tolerance. Chronic shame needs to be attenuated, compassionately understood and put in its proper place. In this workshop, clinicians will learn a variety of techniques from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, trauma sensitive mindfulness, yoga and guided Imagery to develop improved shame resiliency in their clients.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this workshop, clinicians will be able to:

1. Describe the neurobiological effects of traumatic experiences and how that results in chronic shame.
2. Be able to apply clinical interventions from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and trauma sensitive yoga to alleviate shame symptoms in clients.
3. Implement trauma sensitive mindfulness-based techniques to reduce client self-loathing.
4. Build shame resiliency with interventions based on increased empathy, self-compassion and forgiveness.