For many in the international assistance community, the past year has meant more than job loss but it has meant the disorienting experience of watching a professional identity, built over years or decades, come apart. That disorientation was the focus of the July 20 International Assistance Community Support Series, hosted by OneAID and Somatic Experiencing International on the topic of “Shame and Identity Loss.”

The teaching portion of the session was offered by Larry Iaonnotti, a Somatic Experiencing International faculty member, and we’re glad to share the recording above for anyone who missed the live session or wants to revisit it.

Naming what’s often left unnamed

Shame is rarely discussed openly, even though it is one of the most common responses to sudden career disruption. When a role, a title, or a mission has been central to how someone understands themselves, losing it can trigger not just grief but a quieter, harder-to-name sense of shame — a feeling that something is wrong with you, rather than with the circumstances. Larry’s presentation works from a somatic perspective, exploring how these responses show up in the body and how a body-based approach can support processing them.

Questions, or need support? Reach the OneAID and SEI team at sehumanitarian@gmail.com.