“Adolescence” on Netflix is a must watch! It tells a complex story about the world that children and young people live in today.

There are so many important messages to pull out of it but for me I was super impressed with its brilliant portrayal of shame—how it overwhelms, how it drives behaviour, and how it seeks containment.

Shame Containment Theory helps us understand this dynamic: when shame is uncontained, it can spiral into destructive actions. In the series, we see how uncontained shame manifests in aggression and how attempts to recontain it often come through violence. This mirrors real-life struggles, especially in adolescence, where shame can shape identity and choices in profound ways.

The show also raises an important question: do parents truly know what their children are viewing and engaging with online? How are schools facilitating these important conversations? The digital world amplifies shame, offering both validation and humiliation in equal measure, often outside of adult awareness.

One of my young clients had watched it over the weekend and we had an amazing conversation about it. Their perception was the internet is like a second parent for many children and young people!

Creating safe spaces for open conversations about shame is crucial.

How can we better support young people in managing and containing these powerful emotions?

Watch this space for our upcoming book – Jake and his Shame Armour.