Be Brave: Recognise and Centralise Shame in your Practice
Tracks
Ballroom 2
| Wednesday, May 14, 2025 |
| 10:55 AM - 11:15 AM |
Overview
Hala Abdelnour, Institute Of Non-violence
Speaker
Ms Hala Abdelnour
Ceo And Founder
Institute Of Non-violence
Be Brave: Recognise and Centralise Shame in your Practice
Abstract
This presentation bridges my experiences of working with incarcerated male clients, youth and adult detox units, CALD-specific gambling programs, recently arrived new Australians, as well as men and other adults who use and/or experience family violence. I draw on the audience to consider the central role of shame in our work, recognising shame as an in-body-ed experience that is traumatic.
Evidence shows a strong connection between shame and antisocial behaviours; and so, if we don't centralise shame in our practice, we risk elevating the risk of violence towards the self and/or others.
This presentation will look at how shame manifests in our work, its links to identity and social wellbeing, social cohesion and healthy functioning. I will explore definitions of shame, and various models to work effectively with it.
The aim of the presentation is to spotlight the value of understanding shame and centralising our practice around it, at the risk of current practices not being as trauma-informed and shame-sensitive as they ought to be.
My hope, is that by centralising shame in our work, we are better able to support behavioural change around addiction and abusive behaviours.
Evidence shows a strong connection between shame and antisocial behaviours; and so, if we don't centralise shame in our practice, we risk elevating the risk of violence towards the self and/or others.
This presentation will look at how shame manifests in our work, its links to identity and social wellbeing, social cohesion and healthy functioning. I will explore definitions of shame, and various models to work effectively with it.
The aim of the presentation is to spotlight the value of understanding shame and centralising our practice around it, at the risk of current practices not being as trauma-informed and shame-sensitive as they ought to be.
My hope, is that by centralising shame in our work, we are better able to support behavioural change around addiction and abusive behaviours.
Biography
Hala is the CEO and Founder of the Institute of non-violence, a service that was established to support family violence response across Australia. The Institute offers advanced family violence training programs, clinical supervision and therapeutic services to clients who are using or experiencing violence. It also works to eradicate systemic racism and misogyny.
Hala commenced her career as an AOD Clinician in a maximum security male prison and working with migrant/refugee families. She has worked in problematic gambling and is a Men’s Behaviour Change program facilitator. She specialises in working with shame and trauma, intersectionality, cultural safety and group facilitation.
