Healing Shame and Rebuilding Self-Worth
Shame is one of the most painful emotions we carry — and one of the most misunderstood. It erodes your sense of self, damages your self-worth, and causes you to reject parts of yourself just to feel acceptable.
When shame takes root, we begin to fragment. We hide the parts of ourselves we believe are unlovable, covering them up with perfectionism, self-criticism, or silence. We shrink ourselves to stay safe. We keep others at arm’s length — even when we long for connection. And slowly, we forget that we were worthy all along.
The Invisible Impact of Shame
Dr. Gershen Kaufman described shame as “a wound made from the inside of an unseen hand.” It disrupts your sense of self and rewrites your internal narrative — replacing confidence with self-doubt, compassion with harsh inner criticism, and wholeness with the illusion of a “false self.”
As Patti Ashley, PhD, LPC writes:
“Core shame erodes the ability to recognize the true self. In an attempt to feel lovable, one creates stories about themselves based on what others have suggested they become.”
Unhealed shame often shows up as:
Perfectionism and people-pleasing
Avoidance and emotional numbing
Projection and criticism of others
Inability to accept praise or love
Deep feelings of “not enoughness”
You Are Already Enough
The healing work is not about fixing who you are — it’s about reclaiming the truth of who you’ve always been. Therapy can help you untangle yourself from the narratives of shame and self-denial so you can:
Restore your self-worth and sense of wholeness
Cultivate genuine self-compassion
Accept your full humanity — not just the polished parts
Feel empowered, grounded, and enough as you are
Reconnect with your true self and live more authentically
When you begin to heal shame, you stop chasing worthiness — and start living it.