02/17/2026
"We just finished seven weeks of work that most people spend years avoiding.
This wasn’t a surface-level book study. It was a structured, clinical deep dive into The Gifts of Imperfection — because I kept hearing the same things in both our men’s and women’s programs
“I should have known better.”
“I ruined everything.”
“If I heal, it means what happened didn’t matter.”
“Joy feels like betrayal.”
"I still have so much guilt and shame."
Different stories. Same weight.
So I built something intentional.
Not a fluffy book study. Not a “feel good” group.
But a structured, clinical journey into shame resilience, authenticity, vulnerability, courage, acceptance, and self-forgiveness.
Because here’s the truth:
You can’t outwork shame.
You can’t hustle your way out of guilt.
And you can’t grow if you’re still pretending.
Over the weeks, people started coming up to me saying things like,
“I’m uncomfortable… because I’m realizing I’m not being true to myself.” And even, “This book changed my life.”
That kind of discomfort? That’s growth trying to break through.
What I watched happen in those rooms was powerful.
Clients began putting language to the beliefs underneath their behavior. They started untangling survivor’s guilt. They began separating who they are from what they’ve done — or what’s been done to them.
It wasn’t always easy. Some weeks were heavy. Some conversations were raw.
But growth usually is.
And growing in truth hurts a whole lot less than staying stuck in shame.
I’m incredibly proud of the depth of work that happened in those rooms and incredibly honored to watch our clients grow in ways I could have never imagined."
--Courtney Johnson, CDCA
