I work with women experiencing shame. Shame is the emotion of unworthiness, of “not good-enoughness.” Shame believes, on a deep, core level that we are somehow not loveable or that we are bad or wrong. Shame robs of us of sense of belonging and safety inside ourselves, and thus in our lives. 

Often, shame is the result of early childhood experiences where, for a variety of reasons, it was communicated we were bad in some way. This could be from our family of origin, from religion, or from peers at school. It also comes from cultural messaging and the pressure to conform to what it means to be “a good woman.” Because shame is so painful, it can then cause us to engage in behaviours deemed as shameful as a means of escaping our pain. From shame we can also end us up in situations and relationships which perpetuate the belief of our unworthiness. The ripples of shame reach far and wide. 

The deepest fear of those experiencing shame is their “badness” being exposed. Thus, it can be incredibly intimidating to be vulnerable with another human about your deepest fears and struggles. I want you to feel safe, seen and cared-for. There is no circumstance, personality trait or emotion you could bring into my counselling space where you would experience judgement.