While it may appear that I have a large number of specialties, at heart, all of these issues have a typical, central core feature: SHAME. I feel I am an especially good fit for patients who are struggling with shame or shame-based issues. Given the taboos of our culture, sexual minorities are one group of people prone to developing feelings of shame as a result of living in a non-validating culture. I am LGBTQIA+ and kink affirmative, and work with individuals in a variety relationship types: monogamous relationships, open relationships, polyamorous relationships, as well as other configurations.
Many people feel shame for other reasons: divergence from their religious expectations, needing accommodations for physical illness, and even those who feel that they have not been able to benefit from prior mental health treatment.
Self-compassion is an important element of my work. While older and more pop-psychology notions of self-esteem are still commonplace in our culture, “developing” self-esteem is often problematic. Self-esteem is often developed based on facets of life beyond our direct control. More important to many people is self-compassion: feeling the ability to feel kindness and acceptance of one’s self - including the good and the bad. Accepting one’s self in totality and cultivating an attitude of self-kindness and self-awareness can strengthen our bond with humanity by connecting us with central human themes of struggle, triumph, challenge, and success. By connecting with our humanity through self-compassion, we move beyond the more limited notions of self-esteem that are commonplace.
Todd Anderson, PhD, PsyD, LP
