Writing for Shame Resilience: Turning Shame Into Your Superpower

With Melissa Petro

July 14 - 18, 2025

Workshop Schedule

Monday
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm*How to Drop into Esalen *
7:15 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
4:15 pm – 6:15 pm
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
4:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Thursday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
4:15 pm – 6:15 pm
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday
9:30 am – 12:00 pm

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

  • Sleeping Bag Space – $940.00
  • Bunk Bed Space – $1,240.00
  • Standard Shared Space – $1,560.00
  • Standard Queen Room – $2,060.00
  • Standard Room Two Beds – $3,260.00
  • Premium Queen Room – $3,000.00
  • Premium King Room – $3,220.00
  • Premium Plus King Room – $3,640.00
  • Premium Wooden Yurt – $3,640.00
  • Premium Wooden Yurt Two Beds – $3,640.00
  • Rolf Suite – $6,960.00
  • Point House – $6,960.00
  • Fritz Point House – $6,960.00
  • South Point House – $8,560.00

What if your greatest vulnerability could become your greatest strength? This transformative language arts workshop is designed for anyone ready to level up by unlocking their authenticity. 

The curriculum draws from the wisdom in the instructor’s critically acclaimed book, Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification, which explores how shame is weaponized in our culture to keep us from knowing our worth and achieving our goals. Through reflective writing, shared stories, and guided readings, participants will explore ways to break free from shame’s grip and reclaim their power.

Through the act of writing and reading inspirational texts — along with learning about the instructor’s journey as a former sex worker and survivor of sexual exploitation and media humiliation — we will explore essential questions about the insidious role that shame plays in our modern lives. We will examine how shame hinders us and discuss effective ways to reclaim ourselves and our communities from its grasp.

Participants will be invited to:

  • Learn about their unique shame triggers.
  • Develop a greater awareness of how shame functions in our society.
  • Cultivate vulnerability by sharing intimate stories in a safe space.
  • Practice empathetic listening as others speak their uncomfortable truths.

By developing shame resilience, we can reconnect to our highest goals and purest ideals. We can embody our most authentic self, and embolden others to do the same. The workshop is open to people of all gender identities and expressions and is appropriate for professionals and laypeople alike. No prior writing experience is necessary; all levels are welcome, and all course materials will be provided.

About the Leader

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