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Healing Shamelessly: The Right To Heal Without Judgment

  • Writer: Autumn Bakhsh-Livingston
    Autumn Bakhsh-Livingston
  • Aug 26
  • 3 min read
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Oftentimes, the healing process is depicted as a massive flight of stairs where you look up to see how far you still have to go, but when you look back, you can see how far you have come. However, this depiction is not entirely accurate. While the staircase analogy is great to show how far you have come in the healing journey, it simplifies the process and doesn't give it the recognition it deserves. 


Healing is more like a pathway or a maze, filled with twists and turns, looping backwards to go forward again. Healing is neither linear nor is it simple, and while there will be a lot of progress forward, there will also be setbacks along the way, and that is okay.


How Stigma Plays a Role in Our Healing Journey


We recognize that there is a lot of stigma when it comes to mental health care that can create barriers in the healing process. Stigma has many layers to it that impact us; however, the most impactful is our own self-stigma.


Self-stigma occurs when we internalize negative beliefs, attitudes and judgments about ourselves. It affects our beliefs about our self-worth, abilities, and our capacity to heal. The shame from self-stigma can be paralyzing and make it very challenging to go to therapy. For some, the idea of going to therapy and needing help is shameful enough that they are reluctant to seek treatment. For others, their self-stigma puts pressure on them to heal within a certain time frame.


Clients often worry about ‘doing well’ in therapy and worry about the shame of not doing what their therapist recommends or healing ‘fast enough’. But there is no one way to heal, there is no timeline, and healing is not always going to be smooth.


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In reality, the healing journey rarely follows our own expectations. As humans, we are all uniquely complex, and thus so is the healing process. There may be times when you experience stalls or relapses in progress, there may be times when you don't do your therapy homework, and there may even be times when you stop going to therapy for months. All of that is part of the healing and growing process. Regardless of setbacks, there is no shame in the healing process, and your therapist is here to support you through all that your healing process entails. 


The fluctuations in the healing process can feel discouraging; however, as here at Anchoridge, we are here to help you navigate all that your healing and growing journey is. Our clinicians approach each session with compassion and take a client-centred approach to best support each client where they are in the healing process, setbacks and all.


Let us help you navigate the maze that is the healing process.  


Let’s Talk

Start your healing journey without shame with us. We are here to support you. 

📍 In-person sessions available in Waterloo, London, and Oakville

💻 Virtual counselling across Ontario

Book a free 15-minute consultation or explore our Treatment Areas page to get started.



Supports

Suicide Crisis Line https://988.ca/ 



Sources

Feature Image: Ashley Batz on Unsplash

Supporting Image Luke Jones Design, On Unsplash 


 

About Anchoridge Counselling Services

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At Anchoridge Counselling Services, we provide compassionate, client-centred support for individuals, couples, and families. With locations across Ontario, our team of experienced psychotherapists and social workers is committed to helping you navigate life’s challenges with evidence-based strategies and a supportive environment.

Whether you're seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, or personal growth, we’re here to help. Our mission is to guide you toward resilience, healing, and a stronger sense of self.


Explore our services or connect with a therapist today at www.anchoridgecounselling.com.


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