Despite having a loving partner, Mark feels unloveable. He grew up in a world that shamed him for who he is | Chris Cheers

Just as the cause of shame is outside us, so too must be the cure. Connection with others and collective action is a path to self-acceptance and belief

• The modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work

Mark*, a queer man in his mid 30s, has been seeing me fortnightly for a few months now. I have learned that Mark loves his work and lives with his loving partner in a home they love, on a street they love, with a dog they love.

I have also learned that Mark believes he is unloveable.