Untangling Complex Shame | Dr. Zoe Shaw
Shame can quietly attach itself to your identity and keep you hiding from freedom, connection, and God. In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy Osborne is joined by licensed psychotherapist Dr. Zoe Shaw, who unpacks complex shame, explains how it forms, and why it doesn’t simply disappear with understanding or good intentions.
Christy and Dr. Zoe explore the difference between guilt, simple shame, and complex shame, why many women internalize blame—even for things that happened to them—and how shame often shows up in faith and church spaces. They also discuss why shaming behavior never leads to heart change and what Scripture shows us instead.
If you’ve ever felt broken, disqualified, or afraid to be fully known, this conversation offers a compassionate, faith-centered path toward truth, healing, and freedom—without shame.
IF YOU’VE EVER THOUGHT…
- “I’m not just struggling… I’m broken.”
- “If people really knew me, they wouldn’t love me.”
- “My story disqualifies me from being close to God.”
Babe, this episode is for you
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
- The difference between guilt and shame—and why guilt can be healthy but shame never is
- What simple shame looks like and why it often dissolves with compassion and “me too” community
- What complex shame is and why it doesn’t disappear even when others understand your story
- Why many women blame themselves for things that happened to them—and how that keeps shame tangled
- How shame shows up in church spaces and why shaming behavior never leads to heart change
- What Scripture reveals about how Jesus brings healing without shame
- A gentle, practical first step for the woman who longs for freedom but feels afraid to be vulnerable
LINKS & RESOURCES
Dr. Zoe’s Book
Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shame
Follow Dr. Zoe on Instagram
@drzoeshaw
Join the Love Life Sober Community
Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast
Order Christy’s Book
Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
Connect with Christy on Instagram
@lovelifesoberwithchristy
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Christy found her true calling when she gave up alcohol and discovered a passion for helping women do the same. She has since coached hundreds of women across the US and UK as a highly trained senior sobriety coach, blending neuroscience, faith, and practical tools to help clients break free from alcohol and live with purpose.
She is the author of the best-selling Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind, and the host of the Love Life Sober podcast. Christy lives in Sussex, England, with her husband, their two teenagers, Ella and Carter, and their cavapoo, Copper.
You can discover more from Christy at
