How to Get Past the Shame of Losing Your Job, According to Harvard Psychologist Dr. Helen Riess

How to Get Past the Shame of Losing Your Job — with Harvard Psychiatrist Dr. Helen Riess

That sneaky feeling after a job loss? It’s not failure — it’s shame.

It shows up after the layoff, the rejection, or the silence between applications — whispering that you’re not enough. But you are. You’re simply in transition.

In this week’s episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, I sit down with my friend Dr. Helen Riess, a Harvard psychiatrist, empathy researcher, and author of The Empathy Effect. Together, we unpack what really happens when your confidence or identity takes a hit — and how empathy (especially for yourself) can help you rebuild.

Whether you’ve just been laid off, are in a career pivot, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical, science-backed tools to help you quiet shame, rebuild confidence, and move forward with clarity and courage.

💡 If you’ve been laid off — or think you might be — download our free career resource:

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About Dr. Helen Riess

Dr. Helen Riess is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Founder and Chief Scientist of Empathetics, Inc. Her pioneering research on the neuroscience of empathy has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Oprah Magazine. She is the author of The Empathy Effect: Seven Neuroscience-Based Keys for Transforming the Way We Live, Love, Work, and Connect Across Differences.

About The Show - Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

Each week, Leilani Brown — CEO of Giant Steps, LLC and author of From Campus to Career — explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through smart, soulful conversations with experts, thinkers, and changemakers, the show helps you navigate transitions, build resilience, and lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

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