20/08/2026
Why therapists should understand shame.
As therapists, we often work with the behaviours our clients bring into the room, but what if those behaviours are protecting something much deeper?
Shame can influence the way people relate to themselves and others. It can shape intimacy, relationships, emotional regulation and even s*xual functioning. Yet shame often remains hidden beneath the presenting issue.
Shame Containment Theory (SCT), developed by Lisa Etherson, offers a new clinical framework for understanding how shame develops, how it is managed throughout life, and how it can present in therapeutic practice. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, SCT encourages us to explore the protective function that behaviours may serve.
Understanding shame can strengthen therapeutic relationships and open new possibilities for meaningful change.
If you'd like to explore this approach further, join us on 21 September for our 4-hour advanced CPD, Beyond Performance: Understanding Male Sexual Difficulties Through Shame Containment Theory, delivered by Lisa Etherson.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
