Understanding and Treating Chronic Shame

Chronic shame is painful, corrosive, and elusive. It resists self-help and undermines even intensive psychoanalysis. Patricia A. DeYoung's cutting-edge book gives chronic shame the serious attention it deserves, integrating new brain science with an inclusive tradition of relational psychotherapy. She looks behind the myriad symptoms of shame to its relational essence. As DeYoung describes how chronic shame is wired into the brain and developed in personality, she clarifies complex concepts and makes them available for everyday therapy practice. Grounded in clinical experience and alive with case examples, Understanding and Treating Chronic Shame is highly readable and immediately helpful. Patricia A. DeYoung's clear, engaging writing helps readers recognize the presence of shame in the therapy room, think through its origins and effects in their clients' lives, and decide how best to work with those clients. Therapists will find that Understanding and Treating Chronic Shame enhances the scope of their practice and efficacy with this client group, which comprises a large part of most therapy practices.Challenging, enlightening, and nourishing, this book belongs in the library of every shame-aware therapist.

Patricia A. DeYoung, MSW, PhD, is a relational psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and a founding faculty member of the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy.

"Shame is indeed a phenomenon that is both in the brain, the mind, and in the space between us. Dr. DeYoung does a solid job in addressing the challenges of living with and treating chronic shame using a thoughtful, humane, and scientific approach." Louis Cozolino, PhD, professor of psychology at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology "Beginning with diverse clinical vignettes with very dissimilar diagnoses, Patricia DeYoung tackles the unvoiced but powerful presence of shame that so often lies at the unspoken core of what troubles our clients. She beautifully and evocatively gives voice and shape to the annihilating impact of lack of attunement. DeYoung also makes the point that because shame takes root in relationship, we must heal it relationally. Equally important, she reminds us that, to be effective in this work, therapists must engage in their own ongoing internal work. This special book needs to be read by all of us." Patricia L. Papernow, EdD, instructor in psychology at