Distinguish shame from guilt and recognize their roles in the development of a shameful identity
Theorists sometimes question the distinction between shame and guilt. During this webinar we will explore the difference and the reasons for maintaining separate definitions for shame and guilt, and discover why assisting clients in understanding the difference is an initial step in recovery. Many individuals suffer trauma from events that may be connected to family of origin issues, victimization, or other situations that remain unresolved and lead to the development of a shameful identity. Thoughts and feelings may be experienced in a distorted or incongruent manner that lead to patterns of self-medication, substance misuse, or an addictive process. The expression of anger, reliance on denial, and avoidance may dramatically support the continuation of the addictive process. Oftentimes, clients are disconnected to their experience of shame and the connection to their personal identity and reliance on substance. This course serves to unravel these patterns and provides a model, or an approach to treatment, involving choice that can be utilized to assist your clients in building or reclaiming a genuine and authentic identity that will enable them to change the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that perpetuate a shameful identity.

Course Content

THE FOUR ACT PLAY IN TREATING SHAME, SECRECY &
ADDICTION
• Act I: Defining Shame
• Act II: The Roots of Shame
• Act III: The Private World of Addictions
• Act IV: Treatment of Shame & Addictions
DEFINING SECRECY AND LINKS TO TRAUM
• Shame vs. Guilt
• How Shame Develops into deeper structure—The
Shameful Identity
THE PRIVATE WORLD OF SHAME
• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Shame
• Thoughts and Feelings of Shame
THE PRIVATE WORLD OF ADDICTION
• Unresolved Abandonment
• Anger, Avoidance & Denial
• Brain Related Behavior and Addiction

SHARING THE SECRETS FOR HEALING
• Tools for Forgiveness and Healing
• The Treatment of Shame
• Treatment of Addiction
• The Choice Paradigm