logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
14m 29s

Complex Feelings and Shame about Childho...

Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam
About this episode

Learn to regulate your nervous system with my free course- Grounding Skills for Anxiety, and PTSD: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd/?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube

This podcast is for those of you who were sexually abused as children, who perhaps carry some shame because you had mixed and complicated feelings about that abuse. And what I mean by that is you were groomed, and maybe you liked or initiated some aspects of the situation, and now you perhaps feel ashamed, because you feel confused about whether you were a victim or a willing participant. This can directly contribute to PTSD and CPTSD. I think our collective silence about this topic leaves survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse feeling like they’re the only one who felt confused about their part in the abuse. That leads to shame that leaves them thinking that they’re broken, bad or deviant. And CPTSD can impact people for a lifetime.

By the end of this podcast, you’ll be able to understand how the complicated nature of Childhood sexual abuse leads to shame, and also, how to work through that.

Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com

Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books 

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

Up next
Jul 4
The Science of Self-Blame and Depression
Struggling with depression and self-blame? Learn why it’s not your fault, how guilt fuels depression, and how to break the cycle and heal. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Are you stuck in a cycle o ... Show More
22m 6s
Jun 30
Keto and Metabolic Treatments for Mental Health w/Dr. Chris Palmer
Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership The speaker discusses the metabolic theory of mental health, suggesting that brain disorders classified as mental illnesses are largely metabolic conditions. Traditi ... Show More
28m 47s
Jun 27
Pro Climber Talks about Facing Fear and Managing Risk- Hazel Findlay
Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Check out Hazel's Program here: https://www.strongmindclimbing.com/ I love climbing because there's an amazing intersection of mental and physical skills, and it pus ... Show More
33m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
EMDR Therapy and Personality Disorders
What is a personality disorder? According to the American Psychiatric Association, 10 personality disorders are defined as one's thinking, feeling, and behaving deviating from the culture's expectations, causing distress or problems functioning, and lasting over time. T ... Show More
17m 37s
Apr 2023
EMDR Therapy and Sexual Trauma
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And, every nine minutes, that victim is a child. In this episode, we talk with EMDR-certified therapist, consultant, and virtual trainer Kristina Anderson about her work with victims of ... Show More
59m 22s
Jun 2024
EMDR Therapy, Eating Disorders and Sexual Abuse
What happens when you see a therapist for an issue you are having, only to discover that there is another underlying issue fueling the first? Patty Cabot met EMDR Certified Therapist and Consultant Leah Leatherbee, LCSW-R, to help with her eating disorder, which was driven by yea ... Show More
37m 34s
Jul 2024
Breaking the Cycle of Narcissistic Abuse
On episode 226 of Ask Kati Anything, Kati addresses a range of complex mental health topics, including: The morality of suicide and assisted death for chronic illnesses Coping with anxiety around receiving compliments and kindness Moral responsibility for actions by individuals w ... Show More
50m 41s
Sep 2024
"How do I know what's really me versus what's my mental illness?"
This week licensed therapist Kati Morton talks about distinguishing between our core personality and trauma response, how to figure out what our identity is without our mental illness, and dealing with SA online. She then explains how we can know if we are being lazy, how to ask ... Show More
42m 26s
Nov 2024
Talking about Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders, with Patty Cabot
Before I launch into this week’s episode, I just want to mention a trigger warning as my guest this week talks about sexual abuse. In the episode, we don’t go into the details of the specific abuse, however, this episode may still be triggering for you, if you, or someone you kno ... Show More
43m 51s
Mar 2025
EMDR Therapy: Addressing the Impact on Identity and Belief When Spiritual Trauma Happens
In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for healing spiritual trauma. Many individuals experience profound emotional pain and confusion from harmful religious/spiritual/cult experiences, leading to fee ... Show More
33m 9s
May 2024
EMDR Therapy for Serious Illness
Cancer. HIV/Aids. Long Covid. Back, joint, and muscular-skeletal pain.  Pulmonary diseases. What do these all have in common? They are considered a serious illness. People who deal with them are usually in it for the long run. Serious illness is a health condition that carries a ... Show More
51m 46s
Aug 2024
How far back does my body remember?
This week licensed therapist Kati Morton talks about emotional pain in therapy sessions, how we can stop our hypersexuality, and how far back our body remembers traumatic experiences. She also explains other mental illnesses that could be helped through DBT, and what we can do to ... Show More
41m 30s
May 2024
434: Shame As An Adaptation To Trauma + Attachment Wounds with Dr. Janina Fisher
This week's episode is the fourth of five live interviews recorded live at Psychotherapy Networker Symposium in March. This week's guest is someone I have admired and learned from for years, Dr. Janina Fisher! Janina Fisher was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Networke ... Show More
23m 21s