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| Daring Way | |
|---|---|
| Name | Daring Way |
| Founder | Brené Brown |
| Established | 2009 |
| Type | Therapeutic training program |
| Focus | Shame resilience, vulnerability, courage |
| Country | United States |
Daring Way
The Daring Way is a structured professional training program created to train facilitators in methods for addressing shame, vulnerability, and courage in clinical and organizational settings. It is associated with a broad public-facing body of work by Brené Brown, integrating material from narrative inquiry, qualitative research, and therapeutic group modalities used in settings ranging from universities like University of Houston to organizations such as TED Conferences and Amazon (company). The program has been delivered through partnerships with institutions, nonprofits, and private practice clinicians across North America and internationally.
The Daring Way program synthesizes elements from Brené Brown’s research trajectories, including findings presented in works like The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, and Braving the Wilderness. It frames shame resilience and worthiness as targets for intervention and uses a curriculum that combines didactic content, experiential exercises, and facilitator skill-building. Delivered in workshop series, multi-day intensives, and certification cohorts, the program is situated within broader conversations involving American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, and clinical settings such as community mental health centers and university counseling centers like Columbia University Counseling and Psychological Services.
Development of the Daring Way traces to Brené Brown’s qualitative studies on shame and vulnerability conducted while affiliated with University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and disseminated through venues including TEDxHouston and TED Conferences where her talks reached global audiences. Following popular reception of books like Daring Greatly and media appearances on platforms such as NPR and The Oprah Winfrey Show, the program formalized into a proprietary curriculum and facilitation model around 2009, later expanding through certification pathways and organizational licensing. Its propagation intersected with continuing education offerings tied to professional bodies like American Counseling Association and training events held at conference centers such as Aspen Institute.
The curriculum centers on shame resilience theory and practices adapted from narrative therapy, group psychotherapy, and adult learning models used in programs at institutions like Harvard University and Yale University. Core concepts presented include definitions of shame, vulnerability, empathy, boundaries, and wholehearted living as developed in Brown’s scholarship. Sessions incorporate exercises akin to reflective writing methods used in Joe R. Glover-style narrative inquiry, role-plays common to training at Menninger Clinic and guided mindfulness elements similar to approaches at Duke Integrative Medicine. Content modules reference case examples that parallel studies found in journals connected to American Journal of Psychiatry and Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Training pathways lead to facilitator certification through a series of prerequisites, supervised practice, and demonstration of competency in group facilitation, assessment, and adherence to program ethics. Certification cohorts often require participation in intensive trainings, consultation groups, and recorded facilitation reviews assessed by credentialed trainers who may hold licenses through bodies like National Board for Certified Counselors or state licensing boards such as the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Continuing education credits have been offered in partnership with associations like National Association of Social Workers and organizational clients including Google LLC and Microsoft have commissioned onsite trainings for leadership and employee wellbeing programs.
Empirical scrutiny of the Daring Way draws on broader evaluations of interventions addressing shame and self-compassion found in literature from journals such as Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and Clinical Psychology Review. Independent researchers have compared elements of the curriculum to evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, noting overlaps and distinctions in mechanism targets and outcome measures. Critiques have emerged from scholars and practitioners affiliated with institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital and McGill University regarding the need for randomized controlled trials, standardized outcome metrics, and clarity about adaptations for diverse populations including clients served by Kaiser Permanente and Veterans Health Administration programs. Legal and intellectual property discussions have involved entities such as American Psychological Association ethical committees and university technology transfer offices.
The program’s concepts have permeated popular discourse through media outlets like The New York Times, Time (magazine), and broadcast appearances on Good Morning America, influencing workplace leadership curricula at corporations including Starbucks Corporation and nonprofit training at organizations like United Way Worldwide. Clinicians in private practice, community clinics, and higher-education counseling services have adapted Daring Way-informed interventions for groups addressing perinatal mental health, trauma recovery, and leadership development. Adaptations and translations of seminar materials have been hosted in collaboration with international training organizations present in cities such as London, Sydney, and Toronto, and engaged stakeholders from philanthropic foundations like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in wellbeing initiatives.