Shame, Vulnerability, and the Power of Being Seen

As a therapist, I’ve sat with many people navigating the painful terrain of shame—the “I’m not enough” voice that echoes in the dark corners of our thoughts. I’ve also wrestled with my own moments of not-enoughness, both in and outside the therapy room. One of the most powerful shifts in my personal and professional journey came when I read The Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly by Dr. Brené Brown. Her research gave language to something I had seen over and over: shame thrives in silence, and vulnerability is the antidote.

Brown describes shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” Vulnerability, on the other hand, is the courage to show up when there are no guarantees—to be seen, even when we’re afraid we’ll be rejected.

In therapy, I invite clients to practice this kind of brave vulnerability: naming the things they feel least proud of, letting go of perfectionism, and learning that being human doesn’t disqualify them from love. I’ve learned that healing often begins not with fixing, but with being seen and heard—without judgment.

If shame is telling you that your story makes you unworthy, I hope you’ll know this: you are not alone, and you don’t have to hide. Sometimes, sharing the hardest truth becomes the first step toward freedom.