Creatively Processing White Shame
This 2-hour session is for white counsellors and therapists to spend time processing shame relating to racism and white supremacy, and the 'sticky feelings' that come with beginning the work of anti-racism. The session aims to use creativity as a medium to help white therapists identify, make sense of, and begin to process their shame and centre embodied feelings within a holding and non-judgemental space.
This experiential session is suitable for white counsellors and therapists who are ready to engage with difficult feelings and move towards an ongoing anti-racist therapeutic practice.
This session was originally part of a Radical Therapist Network event ‘Resting in Grief & Creatively Processing Shame’ co-developed and facilitated by Kim Loliya and Sage M Stephanou following the murder of George Floyd.
Feedback
“I furthered my understanding on the global impact of shame in relation to racism and other forms of discrimination. Sage's warmth, gentle pace and empathic acknowledgement of the complexity of shame allowed me to connect with other powerful feelings within myself. Sharing these through images led in turn to a sense of connectedness with others. I hope to inspire my clients, colleagues and others to experience the same.”
“Thank you deeply for the holding space you provided today with your gentle, authentic, permission-giving yet accountability-holding presence. You really modelled a way of being in relation to this issue which I found in itself very moving and healing.”
“I found the exercise to be trauma-informed and I felt safe. I felt Sage managed the timing of the art-making well, and also challenged people's language in a skilled and non-shaming way when it was necessary to do so during discussion.”