Exploring Shame with Ben Tannahill & Ryan Hassan

Exploring Shame

Workshop: Future of Healing — Day 1
Facilitators: Ryan Hassan & Ben Tannehill

Ryan and Ben open the Future of Healing 3-day workshop by diving into one of the most misunderstood and deeply rooted emotional experiences: shame.

What is Shame?

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  Shame is a protective mechanism that inhibits authentic self-expression in order to maintain a sense of safety and belonging.

  
  


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  It can attach itself to emotions, behaviours, desires—essentially, any part of ourselves.

  
  


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  It often underlies emotional struggles such as addiction, anxiety, and depression.

  
  

Why Addressing Shame Matters

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  Shame is a foundational imprint beneath many mental health and life challenges.

  
  


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  It drives patterns of isolation to avoid being seen, judged, or rejected.

  
  


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  True healing requires meeting shame with awareness, presence, and compassion.

  
  

Healthy vs. Toxic Shame

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  Healthy shame helps regulate behaviour in a way that maintains social connection.

  
  


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  Toxic shame becomes internalised, creating beliefs like “I am wrong” or “There’s something wrong with me.”

  
  


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  This can lead to patterns of self-disgust, self-hatred, and a fixed identity of being broken or deficient.

  
  

The Physiology of Shame

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  Shame expresses itself through physical postures—shrinking, closing in, avoiding eye contact.

  
  


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  Exploring these physical sensations and postures in a safe, embodied way can be profoundly healing.

  
  

Inquiring Into Shame

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  Engage in mindful inquiry to uncover shame-based beliefs and internal narratives.

  
  


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  Recognise shame as just one part of the self—not your entire identity.

  
  


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  Explore what this part of you is trying to express and what it truly needs.

  
  

Working with Shame in Embodied Processing

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  Begin by establishing a resourced, safe internal space to return to during the process.

  
  


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  Invite the experience of shame into conscious awareness with compassion and curiosity.

  
  


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  Trace the origin of the shame imprint—when and how it formed.

  
  


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  Use embodied, somatic techniques to process and integrate the experience, allowing transformation.

  
  

Key Takeaways

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  Shame is a core emotional wound that must be addressed for genuine healing to occur.

  
  


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  Compassionate, curious inquiry can shift how we relate to shame.

  
  


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  Embodied Processing provides an effective pathway for transforming toxic shame into wholeness and self-acceptance.

  
  

Stay tuned for Day 2 of the Future of Healing workshop in the next episode.