Guilt and shame

Many clients may harbor feelings of guilt or shame about their emotions. They have learned that certain emotions are “forbidden” or a sign of “poor character”. In contrast, the Emotional Schema model stresses the universal nature of all emotions. In this chapter the adaptive nature of emotions is stressed as an antidote to guilt and shame. Of particular interest are the “darker emotions” that people are told that they should not have—for example, feelings of jealousy, envy, resentment, and the desire for revenge. The difference between having an emotion and taking action is described and is interpreted in light of the idea that one can tolerate or acknowledge emotions without being controlled by them.