Starting counselling for shame is similar to driving. You take your car into the garage for a check-in to determine what work is needed. In counselling, we unpack experiences that result in shame. While at the garage, the mechanic will prepare a report outlining issues that need to be addressed. Similarly, we discuss your childhood, upbringing, view of self and self-talk. I sit next to you in the passenger seat and ensure you are safe, heard, validated, and supported as you drive. I offer strategies and tools to help you feel less shame. You can pull over, slow down, or change lanes at any time. You gain new insight and understanding, which creates new experiences and awareness. Driving home after your counselling session, you feel less shame and more resilient. You also reflect on your needs, self-care routine, and positive talk.
Hi, my name is Leena Mehta, and I am a registered clinical counsellor (#19428). I’ve worked as a counsellor for over six years in Canada and two years overseas. I am dedicated to supporting individuals who experience feelings of shame. You were not born with shame. Over the past eight years, I’ve worked with folks from all walks of life: professionals, university students, middle-aged women, youth and seniors. The one thing all of these people have in common is that they experienced childhood abuse or trauma. Processing your childhood abuse or trauma is not easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Let me help.
I am a Burnaby therapist who works with you to explore your shame, self-talk, and relationship with yourself. This happens in a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential space, both in person and online. You were good enough right from birth. For many people, their feelings of shame stem from childhood trauma, and for others, it stems from their unmet needs. I focus on your strengths and work to reduce your feelings of shame.
Tired of feeling ashamed? You don’t have to hide how you feel or your story. What if I told you that your self-talk could be kinder, more patient and more understanding, and rather than feeling shame, you could accept all parts of yourself? Let’s work together and change how you feel.
At Ease Counselling in Burnaby, I work with you to help you achieve your goals and improve your mental health. I understand that you may feel anxious or nervous about reaching out, but you can do it. You can do hard things, and I’m here to support you every step of the way if you let me.
You may be a busy, successful professional who struggles with feelings of shame. At work, you may have a strong work ethic, and coworkers may admire how you carry yourself. However, internally, you may struggle with feelings of shame, increased self-doubt and low self-confidence, but you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable sharing your feelings. What if I told you that you are not the only one in your team who struggles with shame and increased self-doubt?
You may be a high-achieving student who struggles with feelings of shame. At school, your peers and friends admire your ability to study and deliver coursework and presentations confidently. However, internally, you may struggle with feelings of shame, self-doubt, and low self-confidence, and worry when you don’t achieve the marks you want. What if I told you that other students in your year struggle with shame?
You may be a stay-at-home parent or caregiver who struggles with feelings of shame. At home, you may appear confident, and you consistently meet the needs of your partner and children. However, internally, you may struggle with feelings of shame and feeling bad because your self-worth is tied to your ability to parent. What if I told you that other parents also struggle with shame?
At Ease Counselling in Burnaby provides a safe space to share your experiences. You can share it all at once or gradually. You can email me or bring in notes if that’s easier. There is no one way or right way to do therapy. What’s most important for me, as your counsellor, is that you feel comfortable and you do what feels right for you.
There is nothing ‘wrong’ with you. You are not broken, and I’m not here to fix you. As your counsellor in Burnaby, I’m curious to learn how your shame comes to the surface, your self-talk, and the behaviours you engage in in these moments.
You are good enough regardless of your profession, education, relationship status or achievements. You are good enough. Let’s work together to strengthen this.
Feelings of shame can manifest on the surface for people in various forms. Some examples include:
As your Burnaby BIPOC counsellor, I ensure you feel seen, heard, validated, and accepted. Starting your healing journey takes courage, and I am here to support you every step of the way. You are not alone. Let’s talk.
Burnaby shame counselling provides a non-judgmental, kind, and compassionate space to help you process your feelings of shame. Together, we focus on your needs, which may include the following:
As your counsellor in Burnaby, I use a variety of different counselling modalities to support clients with feelings of shame. Every client is different, and as a counsellor, I support each client with where they are in their healing journey. Counselling modalities that can help include:
ACT can help clients accept their thoughts and feelings without trying to change them. It can also help individuals change their behaviour to better align with their values. For example, saying no to others and prioritising their needs and goals.
CBT can help individuals identify and challenge negative core beliefs and thought patterns. For example, I’m not good enough, my needs don’t matter, and I’m unimportant.
DBT can help individuals with emotional regulation and distress tolerance by learning skills and strategies to help them cope. For example, noticing signs of shame in the body and learning how to manage these feelings.
You may feel anxious about starting counselling, but you can start working on yourself by accessing resources:
https://bc.cmha.ca/programs-and-services/
https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/mental-health/
https://www.pac.bluecross.ca/mentalhealth
Brene Brown, I thought it was just me (but it isn’t)
Burnaby shame counselling focuses on the connection between your thoughts and feelings. Some of your feelings of shame may stem from your childhood or childhood trauma. For example, growing up, your parents may have been physically present but emotionally unavailable. As a result, your emotional needs were unmet, and you learnt not to communicate these needs with your parents. As an adult, you struggle to have your needs met and feel anger, shame, or annoyance when your partner is unable to meet them. Some clients struggle with a negative, harsh inner dialogue that reinforces the idea that they are too much or that their needs are too much, but this is not true. As a Burnaby therapist, I help clients strengthen their positive self-talk. Some of our work together also focuses on challenging negative core beliefs and healing your inner child.
Burnaby shame counselling explores how your feelings of shame, negative core beliefs and unmet needs impact your life. For example, some clients feel frustrated with themselves when they are in a relationship with a partner who cannot meet all their unmet needs. Other clients continue to suppress or avoid their unmet needs and, as a result, feel disconnected from their partner, friends or themselves. As a counsellor in Burnaby, I remain curious to learn more about my clients’ experiences and how their lives would be different if they didn’t struggle with feelings of shame. We also explore how shame surfaces, and we identify triggers. Some clients are triggered by comments from extended family members and feel bad. When triggered, they feel bad about themselves and think negatively. I support clients with separating behaviour, what they did or did not do, from who they are as a person.
Burnaby shame counselling helps you heal from experiences that result in shame. Some of our work together may involve exploring where in your body you feel shame and how you cope when you feel shame. Some of our work together may include exploring past experiences and how these shape your view of self. As a Burnaby therapist, I also support clients who have experienced childhood trauma and abuse. I support these clients’ process and heal from the abuse and trauma, and also feelings of shame. Adult survivors of childhood abuse sometimes feel responsible for their experience, and they feel shame. We would work together on healing your inner child. We also focus on building self-kindness, self-compassion, mindfulness, and self-care to help you heal from your feelings of shame. Finally, we work together to shift your self-talk from negative and harsh to positive and caring.
Some people view themselves as less than, not being good enough, unworthy and unimportant. These negative core beliefs are typically rooted in past experiences, often from childhood or adolescence. If these beliefs are challenged by a primary caregiver, a teacher, or an extended family member, they can shift. However, when they are not challenged, our brains find other experiences that strengthen these beliefs. As your Burnaby therapist, I work with clients to challenge these negative core beliefs. Childhood abuse or trauma, bullying and unhealthy environments at home or school can result in individuals feeling shame. What if I told you that I’ve supported many clients in overcoming feelings of shame?
I understand reaching out and starting therapy is not easy. Many of my clients share feelings of anxiety, nervousness or worry before their appointment. As your Burnaby therapist, I create a safe space for all clients to feel seen and heard. I build rapport with each of my clients and remain curious to learn more about their unique experiences. With my client’s permission, we explore their feelings of shame and I ensure they feel validated, reassured and safe.
The number of sessions you may need varies from client to client. Every client I support as a Burnaby therapist is different, with varying needs. I work with each client to establish goals, and we work together to achieve them. Clients who have been struggling for a while may need more sessions to help them unpack thought patterns and identify where they feel stuck. However, clients who have been struggling for a shorter period and seek support sooner may find they have less to unpack and process.
When an individual feels guilty, they feel bad about something they may have done or said. When someone feels shame, they feel bad about themselves. Feelings of shame strengthen negative self-talk and reinforce negative core beliefs, such as feeling unworthy or not good enough. At Ease Counselling in Burnaby spends time identifying negative core beliefs and strengthening positive beliefs. I also support clients in building their self-esteem and self-worth. What if I told you that you were born worthy and deserving?
Counselling in Burnaby focuses on how feelings of shame surface, where they stem from, and how they impact your life. As your Burnaby therapist, I support each client in processing and healing from their feelings of shame. I also support clients in increasing self-compassion, challenging negative thoughts, identifying their strengths, forming healthy boundaries, practising mindfulness, setting goals, forgiving themselves and caring for themselves. What if you started to show kindness and compassion to your negative self-talk?
As a Burnaby BIPOC counsellor, sessions focus on meeting you where you are and working at your pace, alongside you, with compassion, kindness, and curiosity, both in-person and online.
As a Burnaby therapist, I incorporate evidence-based modalities in every session. I am trained in various evidence-based modalities, including Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. Each of these modalities equips me to support your unique needs, and we work together to achieve your counselling goals.
As a Burnaby therapist, I incorporate evidence-based modalities in every session. I am trained in various evidence-based modalities, including Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. Each of these modalities equips me to support your unique needs, and we work together to achieve your counselling goals.
