Tamika Jackson, PhD, Resident in Counseling

Joined Lindley Counseling: September 2024

Certification:

• National Certified Counselor

How do you respond to students burdened with shame?

I begin by creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where students feel comfortable sharing openly. Together, we explore the difference between guilt ("I did something bad”) and shame ("I did something bad, and therefore I am bad"). From there, we gently examine those feelings while affirming that our worth is not defined by our mistakes or by the expectations of others. Author and activist Bryan Stevenson reminds us, “Each of us is more than the worst thing we have ever done.” My goal is to help students embrace self-compassion and remember their inherent value.