- Research Article
- 10.1080/13642537.2025.2589506
Exploring shame: Insights from Jungian and existential-phenomenological perspectives
- Nov 21, 2025
- European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling
- Alice Duffy
ABSTRACT This essay delves into the author’s experience of shame, analysed through Jungian and Existential-Phenomenological perspectives. Shame, a pervasive emotion, profoundly impacts the author’s sense of self and relationships. The essay highlights the distinction between shame and guilt, emphasizing shame’s deep-rooted presence since childhood. The author explores the interplay between shame and other emotions, discussing how it shapes behaviours and coping mechanisms like people-pleasing and eating disorders. The discussion extends to the Jungian concepts of the persona and shadow, illustrating how societal roles and repressed aspects of the self-contribute to the experience of shame. Through personal anecdotes, the author reflects on how these concepts manifest in daily life and therapeutic settings. The essay also examines Existential-Phenomenological therapy, focusing on Ernesto Spinelli’s work. This approach views shame as a relational, embodied phenomenon, highlighting the therapeutic relationship’s role in reshaping self-narratives. The author reflects on the transformative potential of therapy, emphasizing the importance of choice and agency in overcoming shame. Ultimately, the essay advocates a nuanced approach that incorporates intersectional considerations, recognizing the complex dynamics of shame across diverse identities. By integrating insights from both frameworks, the author envisions a path toward self-awareness, healing, and authentic living.
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