It’s Too Late to Apologize: Therapist Embarrassment and Shame

By Rebecca Klinger, Nicholas Ladany, and Lauren Kulp
The Counseling Psychologist
For reprints, contact Rebecca Klinger via the hyperlink provided

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify events in which therapists felt embarrassment, shame, or both in a therapy session and to investigate the relationship of the embarrassing-shameful events with the therapist reactions. Ninety-three therapists participated in this study, and the most frequent events reported were having a scheduling mistake, forgetting or confusing client information, being visibly tired, falling asleep, and arriving late. Implications and need for further research, particularly concerning the effects of therapist embarrassment and shame on therapy process and outcome, are discussed.

Introduction

Embarrassment and shame are common self-conscious emotions often addressed in the psychotherapy literature (Gilbert, 1997; Leith & Baumeister, 1998; Lewis, 1971; Tangney, 2002; Tracy & Robins, 2004). In fact, exploring the embarrassment and shame felt by clients is frequently an integral part of thetherapeutic process (Gilbert, 1997; Pope, Sonne, & Greene, 2006; Sorotzkin, 1985). Therapist embarrassment and shame, however, have rarely been inves- tigated even though therapist embarrassment and shame are believed to have an important effect on the therapeutic relationship (Pope et al., 2006) and cli- ent outcome (Covert, Tangney, Maddux, & Heleno, 2003; Leith & Baumeister, 1998; Pope et al., 2006). The primary purpose of our study was to identify events in which therapists felt embarrassment, shame, or both in a therapy session and the corresponding reactions of the therapist.

The link to the article is here.

For reprints, contact Rebecca Klinger via the hyperlink provided above.

Thanks to Gary Schoener for this information.