Shame Reduction & Building Resilience

This 2-hour continuing education training explores the dynamics of shame and the pivotal role it plays in shaping human behavior, particularly within therapeutic settings. By integrating the latest findings in modern neuroscience, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how shame manifests in the brain and body, affecting emotional regulation and resilience. Through a blend of theory and practical interventions, this course equips professionals with tools to help clients diminish the debilitating effects of shame, fostering greater emotional resilience. Participants will engage in evidence-based strategies to enhance vulnerability, connection, and empathy, promoting lasting personal and interpersonal growth. Suitable for clinicians working with individuals dealing with trauma, addiction, or emotional distress, this course emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and neural plasticity in the healing process.

Course outline:

1. Introduction to Shame and Resilience – Overview of shame’s role in emotional regulation and how resilience mitigates its impact.
2. Neuroscience of Shame – High-level explanation of how shame affects brain structures like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
3. Vulnerability and Resilience – Discussion of vulnerability as a pathway to building emotional resilience.
4. Shame Reduction Techniques – Practical strategies like mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and self-compassion to reduce shame in therapy.
5. Resilience-Building Interventions – Quick, effective methods to help clients strengthen emotional regulation and coping skills.
6. Case Study and Group Discussion – Application of interventions to real-life client scenarios, with group input on practical challenges.

Program Objectives:

1. Understand the neurobiological underpinnings of shame and its impact on behavior.
2. Identify therapeutic techniques that foster resilience and reduce shame in clients.
3. Apply resilience-building interventions based on current neuroscience research.

Approved by: KY Board of Social Work, Alcohol and Drug Counseling Board, Licensed Professional Counselors Board

Course Information

Estimated Time: 2 hr CE

Course Instructor

Michael Eiden Author

Mike Eiden is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, board certified sex therapist, and certified sex addiction therapist who is a graduate of the University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work. Mike has worked in mental health and substance abuse treatment for the past 12 years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Mike is currently a PhD candidate & his dissertation is focused on educating parents to improve their abilities to address internet addiction in their children. Mike works full-time in private practice, specializing in cases of traumatic bonding, process addictions, and complex trauma. He also facilitates professional CEU trainings on screen addiction, trauma treatment, and sexual addiction, while educating parents, teachers, and school administrators about internet addiction.