Shame

Dear GoodTherapy.org, I grew up in a fairly religious household where sex was rarely discussed (and when it was, it was talked about for the purposes of conception). Now, in my 30s, I have ... Read More

Editor’s Note: This article contains description of childhood abuse, which may be triggering for some readers. “I have an image in my mind I can’t seem to get rid of,” I tell Dr. ... Read More

Shame has a bad reputation. Let’s face it: it doesn’t feel good. I mean, who really wants to feel shame? It’s uncomfortable, even downright painful at times. Here is something to ... Read More

How can being in therapy improve your self-esteem? Once we understand both the roots of self-esteem and the essence of therapy, the answer becomes clear. Self-esteem has been described ... Read More

Pentagon efforts to reduce the stigma of mental health care remain inadequate, according to a report from the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report follows at ... Read More

Many families have secrets of one sort or another. When she was 80, my mom shared with her eight children, on an individual basis, a secret she had carried for over 60 years. She wanted ... Read More

You are feeling frightened and ashamed to talk to your counselor about your problems with self-injury and other “bad habits.” You might worry that your counselor will feel critical ... Read More

With nearly half of college students experiencing anxiety and more than a third experiencing depression, college counseling centers are more important than ever. But a hole in medical and ... Read More

“You are never strong enough that you don’t need help.” ―César Chávez My first assignment in graduate school was to write an essay about my experiences in life of asking for ... Read More

Editor’s note: This is the second of two parts exploring Hakomi experiential psychotherapy. Part I appears here. “To notice what arises inside, without judgment, is the essence ... Read More

Meg Ryan, in the film When Harry Met Sally, led the way for people who are particular about their food. Unfortunately, that was done for comedic effect, and the joke was on her: Listen ... Read More

For generations, women have raised concerns about how objectification contributes to street harassment, unwanted workplace sexual attention, and sexual violence. The practice of treating ... Read More