Shari B. Kaplan, LCSWIntegrative Mental Health

Rebuilding Identity Through Connection, Belonging, and Worthiness #mentalhealthawareness

23 Jun 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief monologue, licensed clinical social worker Shari B. Kaplan explains her therapeutic approach to helping clients rebuild a fragmented sense of self. She outlines three core pillars—connection, belonging, and worthiness—as the foundation for identity reconstruction. Kaplan emphasizes a non‑judgmental stance that allows clients to explore why they repeatedly enter toxic relationships, tracing these patterns back to early family dynamics and internalized ideas of love that were modeled by caregivers. By uncovering these learned scripts and re‑establishing a sense of personal worth, the therapist aims to help the client form a healthier, more authentic identity.

Chapters

You're helping someone rebuild their identity. And how do you do that? Connection, belonging, and then worthiness. So if you are nonjudgmental, if you are able to help them think something through, if you can look at their behaviors and say, gosh, I really understand why you keep getting in toxic relationship after toxic relationship. Look who you were raised by. Look what they taught you about love. Like, that feels loving to you, even though it's not. So we have to reestablish their identity, and it first starts here.