About the Course


"Man is the only animal that blushes–or needs to."
Mark Twain

We all have reason to blush. Each of us is haunted by something we all know in our bones but can’t always articulate—that sense of homelessness, a feeling of inadequacy, a profound discomfort about who we are and failure to become what we’re meant to be. This feeling is more than embarrassment. It is called shame, and it ardently desires and seeks to undo us. 

We all know how shame feels: a burning face, a stomach in knots, a tightening of the throat. Whether you just lost a major contract, received disappointing feedback from your boss, or made a mistake that cost your company time and money, the sense of embarrassment lingers telling you lies about your identity and your worth. Shame can feel insurmountable, a constant and permanent element of our existence. What is shame, exactly, and what can be done to overcome its paralyzing effects on our spirits and bodies? 

In this course, psychiatrist Curt Thompson, M.D., founder of Being Known, LLC and author of The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves, explores the nature of shame, including its neuro-biological and spiritual dimensions. Together, we’ll discover biblical tools and practices for facing and scorning shame through the difficult experience of knowing and being known.   

What You'll Learn

  • What is shame, exactly?
  • What effects does shame have on our bodies, our spirits, and our relationships?
  • What are shame’s evil intentions for us?
  • What are the lies that shame tells about us? 
  • Where can we find our true identities?
  • How does Christian faith equip us to face our shame and ultimately overcome it?
  • Why do we fear the intimacy of being known by others?
  • How can we cultivate the practice of knowing others and being known by others?

Course curriculum

  • 1

    The Science of Shame

    • A Professional Sinner

    • The Only Animal That Blushes

    • Braking Without The Clutch

    • The Way Shame Feels

    • The Things Shame Does
  • 2

    A New Story for Shame

    • Shame's Evil Intent

    • Being Known Deeply

    • Great Cloud of Witnesses

    • Does Anyone Know You?
  • 3

    Practice Makes Permanent

    • Beloved of the Father

    • We're Not Alone

    • Facing Our Shame

    • Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

About Dr. Curt Thompson

Medical Director of Curt Thompson, MD & Associates, LLC

Curt Thompson

Curt Thompson, MD is a psychiatrist, and the Medical Director of Curt Thompson, MD & Associates, LLC. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He graduated from Wright State University School of Medicine and completed his psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital. Curt treats adults and adolescents, and he is actively engaged in learning and teaching as he supervises clinical employees and facilitates ongoing education groups for patients and colleagues. Curt's particular interest of writing and research is in the intersection of interpersonal neurobiology and Christian spiritual formation. He is also the founder of Being Known, LLC and the author of Anatomy of the Soul. Curt is a frequent speaker at workshops, conferences, and retreats.