Clients often talk about feeling unworthy and worthless, feeling ashamed simply for existing. Outwardly, there may be no reason to think so, but in the session we will explore this. Shame often appears due to multiple traumatization in the past, from not being seen and not being supported in some of our manifestations. Then at this point we feel Shame, as a feeling of inappropriateness. It is important for us to be reflected and supported in our manifestations. This is important for our new emerging identity. When we are forming as a person or when we are forming our professional identity. Feedback from other important people is important to us. This is the key to our self-support, and then this is what we will rely on as knowledge about ourselves. We long to be reflected in others, to receive their feedback. Parents, siblings, teachers, friends... Receiving feedback from another who has a “hole” there is introjected and appropriated as a “hole” and emptiness, a carbon copy. Ignoring or criticism is also introjected. The emptiness and lack of support in the place where there should be reflection and love are filled in the unconscious with negativity and Emptiness. This emptiness, formed in contact with significant others, forms the beginnings of a negative identity. These are our “Bad Objects,” “ Inner critic" and other attacking parts of our psyche. All this forms a state where we feel “not OK,” worthless and unworthy, flawed, vulnerable, helpless, humiliated, but at the same time we cannot verbalize why this is so. Extensive mental trauma (CPTSD) in the development process creates the preconditions for the formation of many defense mechanisms and ego states to protect our psyche from pain. The flip side of a negative identity can be a false, facade identity, where we can feel omnipotent, self-centered, and consider ourselves better than others. We can reject others before they reject us, run away, avoid contact, devalue, etc. Therapy can help in this process of recognizing, accepting and understanding ourselves and our holistic image. Try to take the risk of being seen and take feedback, build on it. A scary undertaking, I agree, but it can be quite successful in a warm therapeutic relationship.