Shame is a universal social emotion meant to keep us out of trouble. It may be expressed in many ways including perfectionism or feeling worthless. It can be hard to detect shame since it can bind with other emotions, such as grief, anger, or fear. Shame can be transformed from a self-punishing emotion into an ally supporting our well being and health.
Bret Lyon, PhD, SEP, and Sheila Rubin, MA, LMFT, RDT/BCT, are long-time helping professionals who have devoted the last twenty years of their lives to healing shame. They are the founders and co-directors of the Center for Healing Shame. Through their workshops, they have taught thousands of therapists, coaches, and other helping professionals from all over the world how to more effectively identify and work with shame.
Sheila is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a registered drama therapist, and has taught at JFK University and CIIS, as well as being the eating disorder specialist at a hospital and directing Embodied Life Stories performances. Bret holds doctorates in both psychology and drama and has taught at Tufts University, Pomona College, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as written and directed plays in regional theater and off-off Broadway.
Sheila and Bret are married and live in Oakland, California. When they are not working to heal the planet through healing shame, Sheila devotes herself to painting, and Bret puts his soul into photographing birds and other wildlife. Please visit healingshame.com to discover more about them and their work.
