Unveiling Shame: Nurturing Resilience and Agency

This 2-hour continuing education presentation for mental health professionals delves into the profound impact of shame on well-being and personal growth, offering psychotherapists a comprehensive set of tools for working with shame in the therapy room.

Drawing from leading experts like Brené Brown and Janina Fisher, Sarah Buino, LCSW, CADC, RDDP, NMT will explore the multifaceted nature of shame, its neurobiological underpinnings, cultural influences, and the pivotal role of empathy and self-compassion in its healing. Sarah will begin by defining and differentiating shame from other self-conscious emotions (guilt, humiliation, embarrassment) using frameworks from leading researchers.

By equipping oneself with empirically grounded shame resilience strategies and integrating experiential and relational interventions, clinicians can enhance their ability to guide clients toward transformative growth. This journey not only deepens one's understanding of shame's intricate dynamics but also positions clinicians as agents of change, fostering resilience and agency in clients' lives.

This introductory level continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. Describe the neurobiological mechanisms underlying shame, including its impact on the nervous system and brain development.
2. Identify how cultural factors, including racism and homophobia, influence shame experiences in diverse client populations.
3. Apply empathy-based and self-compassion interventions in clinical practice to address shame with clients and integrate experiential and relational interventions to support clients in developing resilience and agency when working through shame.

Outline:

• What is shame? Definitions of shame from Brené Brown, NARM, Janina Fisher, others
• Differentiating shame and other self-conscious affects (ex: guilt, humiliation, embarrassment)
• Shame and neurobiology
  • Shame and the nervous system
  • Shame and brain development
• Shame in a cultural context
  • Shame and racism
  • Shame and homophobia
• The role of empathy and self-compassion in healing shame
  • Defining empathy and self-compassion
  • Using empathy and self-compassion in therapy
• Shame resilience
  • Brené Brown’s shame-resilience
  • The role of agency
  • Experiential practices

The live webinar will include question-and-answer breaks for interaction between the audience and presenter.

Statement of accuracy, utility, and most common risks: This program presents clinical and scientific information about shame, self-conscious affect, and resilience informed primarily by the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), along with trauma-informed research and the work of clinicians and researchers including Janina Fisher, Brené Brown, and others cited throughout the presentation. The workshop is intended for mental health professionals interested in deepening their understanding of shame as a psychobiological and relational process and learning clinically responsible ways to support client agency and self-compassion. No prior training in NARM is required. The program discusses strategies for applying these concepts in ethical and clinically appropriate ways, although the presenter may not address all applications for every population or clinical situation. Research reviewed suggests these approaches are generally effective and supportive across diverse populations; however, as with all clinical interventions, misapplication of concepts may lead to unintended outcomes.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: No conflict of interest indicated.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact GoodTherapy here.

How the Web Conference Works

Before the scheduled event, all registered attendees will be sent a reminder email from GoodTherapy with specific instructions on how to log in to the webinar, as well as links to optional handout materials if applicable.

To attend the event, registered attendees will log in to the Microsoft Teams web conference center using a computer or device with internet access and/or call into the teleconference line on a phone. Attendees will be able to submit questions during the webinar via text chat in the Microsoft Teams web conference center and will be able to see the live streaming video and/or document sharing. 

At the conclusion of this event, participants will receive an email with information about how to request a CE certificate in your GoodTherapy Account. To confirm attendance, participants must enter the start code and end code announced at the beginning and end of the live presentation. Participants will also be prompted to complete an online survey evaluating the event. Participants will need to complete this online survey within six days after the event. Once completed, participants will be able to download a copy of their CE certificate right away by logging in to their GoodTherapy account.

For additional information about this event or our CE grievance procedures, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2025 – 3/30/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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