Therapy Worksheet on Shame
By
HappierTherapy
Author bio
The Happier Therapy editorial team is made up of Masters and PhD counselling psychologists. Each worksheet is created by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The worksheet then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
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What is the theory behind this Therapy Worksheet on Shame?
Shame is a strongly negative feeling based on the belief that one has been exposed and humiliated due to their own doing or circumstances. Persistent feelings of intense shame can lead to psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem leading to social adjustment and interpersonal issues in the long run. Shame however serves a positive purpose as well when it makes us realise we are doing something against our values that needs to be rectified. One way to overcome these intense feelings of shame is to turn towards self-compassion.
How will the worksheet help?
This worksheet is based on the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which has shown to be effective in reducing shame. This worksheet will help set the ground for ACT by asking important questions that will determine how shame has affected various aspects of the client’s life or how has it stopped them from living a full life.
How to use the worksheet?
Instruct the client to reflect on how the feeling of shame has hampered their efforts to live a full life then answer the given questions accordingly. Tell them to write about how their thoughts, goals and actions would be affected if they were to live a life free from their intense feelings of shame.
You can download this worksheet here.