Episode 48: Untangling Complex Shame with Dr. Zoe Shaw

This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations. In this episode of Grey Minds Think Alike, Ali Kessler and Dr. Zoe Shaw delve into the complexities of shame, particularly how it affects women's relationships and self-perception. Dr. Shaw shares her personal journey with complex shame and offers insights into how it manifests in various aspects of life, including motherhood and friendships. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between guilt and shame, the impact of codependency, and the necessity of healing the relationship with oneself. Dr. Shaw advocates for intentional sisterhood to foster connection and healing, while also offering practical steps to help listeners untangle their own shame and guilt. About Dr. Zoe Shaw Dr. Zoe Shaw is a licensed psychotherapist, relationship expert, speaker, and the founder of drzoeshaw.com. She has dedicated her career to helping women heal from complex shame and understand how it impacts their relationships—with others and with themselves. Through her clinical work and teaching, Dr. Shaw helps women identify the hidden ways shame keeps them stuck in unhealthy patterns and empowers them with practical, compassionate tools to reclaim confidence, self-trust, and emotional freedom. She is the author of the upcoming book Stronger in the Difficult Places, which offers a transformative approach to healing complex shame through self-connection, intentional relationships, and sisterhood. Dr. Shaw’s work centers on the belief that healing does not happen in isolation—and that women grow stronger when they are seen, supported, and connected. You can find her on Instagram at @DrZoeShaw (  / drzoeshaw  ) and in most social spaces at the same handle. https://drzoeshaw.com About Ali Kessler Ali Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.” Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in the successful passage of Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court. Contact Ali: Email (mailto:[email protected]) LinkedIn (  / alikessler  ) Website (https://www.greysonschoice.org/)