Working with the Inner Critic

1. Who is this Working with Chronic Shame training designed for?

This online training is designed for psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and other mental health professionals working with complex trauma, dissociation, and attachment difficulties. It is particularly valuable for therapists who notice clients becoming stuck in therapy due to chronic shame patterns.

2. What will I learn in this chronic shame course?

In this professional training, you will learn to:

• Differentiate between healthy shame and chronic shame

• Understand the functions of shame in trauma recovery

• Apply cognitive, emotional, relational, and somatic interventions

• Use the compass of shame model to identify defensive scripts

• Develop practical strategies to build shame resilience in clients

The course integrates trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and somatic approaches to working safely within a client’s window of tolerance.

3. How is chronic shame different from guilt in therapy?

Chronic shame involves a painful belief of “I am bad,” whereas guilt relates to “I did something bad.” This course explores how chronic shame is often rooted in complex trauma and can perpetuate symptoms such as avoidance, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, and relational difficulties. Understanding this distinction helps therapists intervene more effectively.

4. Is this an online trauma training course?

Yes. Working with Chronic Shame is a fully online training course with 365-day access. Participants can complete the sessions at their own pace, making it suitable for busy clinicians seeking flexible professional development in trauma therapy.

5. Who is Kathy Steele and why is her training important?

Kathy Steele is an internationally recognised expert in complex trauma and dissociation. She has over three decades of clinical experience and is a Fellow and past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). Her training provides advanced, evidence-informed approaches to working with shame in trauma therapy.

6. How does this course help therapists work safely with shame?

Because shame is often hidden and easily reactivated, this training emphasises working within the client’s window of tolerance. You will learn relational and somatic techniques to create a safe therapeutic space, reduce re-traumatisation, and support deep attunement and repair.

7. Can this training help with complex trauma and dissociation?

Yes. Chronic shame frequently underlies complex trauma, dissociation, and attachment disturbances. This course provides practical interventions that can be integrated into trauma therapy to address shame as a maintaining factor in long-term psychological difficulties.