Workshop Titles

The Nuts and Bolts of Shame  

Shame evolved as a socialising mechanism. At its best it prevents disruptive behaviours, and the inappropriate crossing of boundaries. Sadly, as society has evolved, we have increasingly used shame as a tool of control, manipulation and dominance. Today in therapy rooms, we are confronted by the effects of toxic shame, which has a devastating effect upon a person’s development and life chances.

Breaking the Cycle: Treating Shame

With its baggage of secrecy and judgement, shame is one of the more difficult facets of trauma that need to be unpacked in the therapist’s room. Its complexities and infectious nature can leave therapists feeling unsure and lacking confidence. This presentation provides ways to build bridges, reconnecting clients to themselves, their families and to others.

The Subtle Poison of Shame: How We Unwittingly Hurt Each Other and Pass Shame On

It’s easy to think of toxic shame as something confined to the dysfunctional home.  But shame makes its presence felt in hundreds of damaged and diminished lives.  From cruel jokes and sarcastic comments to the belittling of colleagues and workmates, we see the insidious poison of shame across society.  This talk looks at the subtle ways we hurt each other in the modern world, and how we unwittingly pass down the poison of shame.

Growing up with Shame: Children of Shame

Toxic shame is an unavoidable element of childhood trauma, developing as a result of abuse, neglect, or other systemic family dysfunctions.  This talk addresses shame’s underlying relationship to caretaking and co-dependence, narcissism, grandiosity and contempt.  It also looks at ways of combating and reducing the often overwhelming effects of childhood shaming.

Shame, Sex, and the Body workshop with Juliet Grayson and William Ayot

More than any other area, sex provides opportunities for us to act out and embody our shame.  The modern world insists that we all be beautiful, competent, and irresistible in bed - but modern culture can wound as much as liberate young and old alike. This talk explores the ways we carry shame around sexuality and desire, performance and expression, and our perceptions of the human body.

Shame: Trauma, Dysfunction and Abuse

Being toxically shamed over a period of time causes something akin to post traumatic stress in the body.   Locked into behaviours that ensured survival, shamed individuals are often unable to complete emotional cycles and move on, leaving them diminished and trapped.  This talk will explore shame as a binding link between trauma, abuse and dysfunction.

Psychosexual therapist Juliet Grayson, and award-winning poet William Ayot return with another series of their successful talks, exploring the many faces of shame.  They combine examples from their lives, psychotherapeutic understandings and the unique insights of poetry, providing an engaging and authentic exploration of the subject. Ideal for practitioners and those who wish to explore their own issues in a safe way.