What Will People Say? Shame & Reputation

What is What Will People Say? Shame & Reputation?

Explore fears about reputation, family honour and being judged by your community. Concern for family reputation can reflect deep care and real social consequences. This sheet looks at that pressure without blaming you or your culture.

When to use it

• Clients navigating two or more cultures
• Newcomers, refugees and second-generation clients
• Family pressure, stigma or shame about seeking help
• Experiences of racism or exclusion

How to use it in session

1. Explain the purpose and check that the client wants to do this.
2. The situation, and who I fear will find out.
3. What I imagine they would say or do.
4. What is real risk, and what is my fear?.
5. What this pressure has protected for me and my family.
6. What it costs me.
7. One step that honours both my family and myself.
8. Agree one small next step.

Clinician tips

• Ask what these ideas mean in the client’s own culture and family; do not assume.
• Avoid framing family closeness or duty as a problem to fix.
• Invite the client to use any language or word that fits.

Sharing with clients

Members can download the PDF to print or email, or copy a private client link from the download box. Your client opens the link and downloads the worksheet on any device. No client account is needed, and nothing your client writes is stored on TherapyAid.

This worksheet is an educational tool for use by, or under the guidance of, a licensed or registered mental-health professional. It is not a diagnostic instrument or a substitute for clinical judgement. If a client is in crisis in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 or call 9-1-1.