Shari Botwin, LCSW

06/17/2026

https://youtu.be/myHa1gz-6v0?si=lF6HbE3gO-GkmBD4
I had the honor of sitting down with Sara Hammel, an investigative journalist who has met hundreds of famous people in the course of her job, and her interview with TV cook Gordon Ramsay--known for calling a prominent female Australian journalist an old, ugly pig and calling the woman he allegedly had a long affair with a demeaning slur—was one the most upsetting she had in her long career at PEOPLE magazine.

We spoke about how all of us can handle, process and heal after abusive, aggressive, inappropriate or even illegal behavior that happens while we're trying to do our jobs--or in any other setting, for that matter.

In this video, we discuss how to recognize and understand bad behavior many of us have to face in the workplace. Tips include how to place shame where it belongs--on the perpetrator, not the victim--and how to be kind to yourself when you don't handle these shocking encounters the way you wished you did.

And for those of us who have endured demeaning and violating experiences as a verbal assault rather than a physical one, Botwin assures us that the damage can often hit as hard as if the perpetrator had physically touched us.
Sara Hammel

EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: Author Courtney Hargrove has met hundreds of famou...

06/11/2026

Happy book birthday!!! Tantor Audio 🙏❤️

Shari Botwin, LCSW discusses her book Stolen Childhoods with NBC News . The audiobook, that is performed by the author, is coming June 11, 2024!

Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GwrFOmDENo&t=27s

05/27/2026

CNN so grateful to be interviewed and share what it means to warrior on and continue living after going through something painful

For people who witness a horrific event, experts stress the importance of processing trauma immediately through talking, writing and self-care.

05/08/2026

I am so happy to share that I will be teaching clinical social work 1 this fall for Rutgers University School of Social Work. I am wrapping up teaching "Understanding Violence and Abuse in Adulthood," and can't wait to return to campus next fall.

"Clinical Social Work 1 builds on the foundation of the first year and advances knowledge by focusing upon the therapeutic relationship as the framework for helping and developing interviewing and assessment skills appropriate with challenging clients and supported by empirical research. Course content explores assessment and treatment principles from the interpersonal, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral approaches."

04/29/2026

https://okmagazine.com/p/justin-theroux-nicole-brydon-bloom-baby-red-carpet-bounce-back-culture/
Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves and others to go back to "normal" life immediately after giving birth. Read more about what I said in OK! Magazine UK about Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom, who appeared on the carpet two days after the birth of their .

The couple stepped out just days after welcoming their first child, highlighting both celebration and the growing pressure to return to the spotlight.

04/15/2026

https://okmagazine.com/p/britney-spears-in-treatment-after-dui-real-story/
As I reflect on the recent headlines about Britney Spears entering treatment after a DUI, I'm reminded that recovery is often portrayed in a dramatic light, which can be misleading. From my perspective, the journey to healing is far more gradual than what we see in the media.
I believe it’s important to acknowledge that recovery is not linear; it comes with its own set of challenges and victories.
I hope that as a society, we can focus on the support and accountability necessary for long-term care. Media coverage that emphasizes these aspects can help reduce stigma and provide a more truthful representation of addiction and healing.
I stand in support of all those on their recovery journey, recognizing that each step is a vital part of the healing process.

Britney Spears recently entered a 30-day rehabilitation program one month after being arrested for driving under the influence in California.

04/12/2026

https://okmagazine.com/p/jennie-garths-painful-past-trauma-sobriety-self-worth-memoir/
Grateful to have spoken with OK! Magazine UK about Jennie Garth’s powerful new memoir, "I Choose Me"— a raw look at trauma, sobriety and self‑worth. It was meaningful to share my perspective and to see this important conversation reach more people.
OK! Magazine UK

The actress reflects on decades of personal struggles, from divorce and miscarriages to addiction, as she embraces a new chapter of healing and self-acceptance.

04/04/2026

I am thrilled to announce that the documentary developed by Columbia School of Medicine has been released. Truly humbled to have the opportunity to shed light on trauma-informed medicine and dentistry. Survivors often avoid going to doctors and getting routine medical treatment because of their histories of being hurt and mistreated by people in a position of authority.
I decided to share an experience I had as a teenager as a teaching tool to help doctors recognize warning signs and red flags when working with younger patients. To view the full short documentary feel free to reach out to me. I will be hosting Q&A panels for groups or programs that want to have a deeper discussion. Dylan Tuccillo you did incredible work on this film!!

04/03/2026

So honored to be interviewed for this exclusive story for People for helping the world better understand abuse within families!!

"The conservative Christian system in which the Duggars were raised could cover up — and exacerbate — such problems, she says.

"Kids growing up in these environments, they don't understand. You're not allowed to talk about s*x. A lot of times they don't even know that they're being abused, because they were never taught. They know something is wrong, but there's silence, secrecy, shame," Botwin says. "Sometimes teenagers are perpetrating sibling abuse as a way to say, 'I'm confused. Why is this happening in my body? I need to feel control.' Abuse is not about s*x, it's about power and control. It's also a way to act on the feeling without having to talk about it."

Addressing the problem and healing is possible, she says. "People can heal from anything no matter how bad it is, if they're willing to sit down and talk about it. I've seen siblings sit down in a room and talk openly about what happened between them. It's not just one conversation, but open, ongoing family therapy that takes place over the course of years."
Rutgers University School of Social Work

🔗: bit.ly/4tonyj7

More than two decades ago, when Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar learned their oldest son Josh had been s*xually molesting his younger sisters, the couple sent him to a church program rather than therapy.

📷️: Shutterstock

03/28/2026

True crime often focuses on the sensational — this conversation does the opposite. Savannah Guthrie courageously names the pain and the hope her family is living with since her mom went missing, and Hoda Kotb conducts the interview with integrity, grounded compassion, and deep care. It’s a powerful reminder of the role journalism can play when it centers people, not spectacle. Worth watching and reflecting on: https://www.today.com/video/extended-cut-savannah-guthrie-s-three-part-conversation-with-hoda-kotb-260181573994

NNBC NewsDDateline NBC

See all three parts of Savannah Guthrie's deeply moving conversation with Hoda Kotb about her mother Nancy's disappearance.