Shame can be paralysing. We often wear it like like a second skin and don’t realise it’s been imposed on us by others, primarily from childhood. We also tend to confuse shame with guilt. Ridding ourselves of toxic Shame starts with having awareness of what our personal shame triggers are, and beginning to challenge the so called “Truths” that we have swallowed whole and believe about ourself and the world: that we are too much, too needy, too weak, too angry, too stupid, too broken, too unlovable, too ugly.

Aim

Learn how to distinguish between healthy and chronic shame,
Understand how counselling can help build shame resilience,
Inspect where shame may have infiltrated our lives and the silence and secrecy stopped us living to our full potential
Notice how we react physically when our shame is triggered.

At the workshop there will be an opportunity to ask questions and to bring any issues to the table that you want to explore.

What?

An explanation of shame and how it impacts us
Demonstrations of working with shame in the therapeutic process,
Discussions and Q&A
Opportunity to meet the counsellors.

Who?

Samantha Arditti is a qualified counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BACP).

She trained in humanistic counselling at the renowned Gestalt Centre in London and prior to this worked for over 25 years as a campaigner for environmental, animal welfare and human rights organisations in the UK and also internationally.

Dennis Rice (assisting) is a Gestalt-trained counsellor, meaning he follows in a school of thought in which he encourages his clients to be more present; and so find through their being more in the “Here and Now” they function better and become more resilient to life’s challenges.

This workshop is brought to you by Too Much of a Person as part of our week long celebration of the launch of our online archive of 100 womxn and non-binary being called ‘too much’ to dismiss or conform them to the idea of what a “woman” should be.
Womxn and non-binary people may miss out on certain “soft skills” growing up (speaking up or confidence) because of their gender or carry unhelpful interjects they have learnt from childhood (gendered shame or ‘imposter syndrome’). We have some incredible professionals who have volunteered their time to bring you these free and accessible workshops for this week only. Don’t miss out and lovingly arm yourself for the world!

Too Much of a Person, the Exhibition

Toxic Shame