Why Shame Is More Than a Feeling  Toxic shame doesn’t just live in the mind—it lives in the body. And somatic therapies help it finally let go. Shame isn’t just emotional—it’s survival-based. For many trauma survivors, toxic shame gets wired into the nervous system as a way to stay safe, avoid rejection, or prevent further harm. Over time, this shame shows up as:
And while talk therapy helps identify shame, somatic approaches like Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family Systems (IFS) go deeper into the body, where shame often lives unspoken. What Is Toxic Shame?
This deep-seated feeling of being “bad,” “broken,” or “not enough” often stems from early experiences—neglect, abuse, emotional misattunement—that shaped the body’s default state of shutdown, freeze, or people-pleasing. Somatic Experiencing: Shame as a Survival Strategy Somatic Experiencing (SE) helps people heal trauma by slowly bringing attention to body sensations instead of stories. How SE helps heal shame:
In SE, shame is reframed as a protective response, not a personal flaw. Internal Family Systems: Meeting the Parts That Carry Shame IFS works with different “parts” inside us—inner children, protectors, critics. Shame often belongs to a hidden part called the exile—a young version of ourselves who absorbed painful messages about who we are. IFS allows clients to:
How Toxic Shame Prolongs Trauma When shame remains unaddressed:
This is why treating shame directly through somatic methods is essential. It’s not just about what happened—it’s about what got stuck. Ready to Start Healing?
If you’re carrying shame from trauma or chronic stress, there is hope. You adapted to survive. Now it’s time to reclaim your sense of worth, presence, and self-trust. I offer in-person therapy in Palo Alto, CA, and online via Zoom. 📅 Schedule a FREE 20 minute consultation today!
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Brad Beldner SEP, GCFT, NCTMB
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