shadow work™
Shadow work™ therapy is a psychological, self development practice that focuses on exploring the unconscious aspects of our personality, often referred to as the "shadow."
These are parts of ourselves that we may reject, hide, or deny, including our fears, repressed emotions, and unacknowledged talents.
Key Concepts of Shadow Work™ Therapy
Understanding the Shadow
The term "shadow" was popularised by psychologist Carl Jung, who believed that the shadow consists of the traits we disown or find unacceptable in ourselves.
Engaging with these traits can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.
Self-Discovery
The goal of shadow work is to integrate these hidden aspects into our conscious self, allowing us to understand how they influence our thoughts, behaviours, and relationships.
Healing and Transformation
By acknowledging and accepting our shadow aspects, we can heal emotional wounds, reduce internal conflicts, and foster a more authentic and balanced self.
Techniques Used
Shadow work has become a bit of a buzz word in recent years....the modality we use was the original form developed in the 80's, it continues to evolve.
Generally speaking shadow may involve various therapeutic techniques, such as process or parts work, journaling, meditation, dream analysis, and guided visualisation.
Engaging in these practices helps individuals confront their fears and desires.
Our method is a guided process with experienced facilitation - it can be explored in a 1 to 1 environment and also in a group work setting....
We offer both and you can find out about our methods HERE
benefits of shadow work
Increased Self-Awareness
By examining the hidden aspects of yourself, you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. This awareness can help identify patterns and triggers that influence your decisions and relationships.
Healing Old Wounds
Shadow work encourages you to confront and process past traumas and grievances. Acknowledging these experiences can be liberating, allowing room for healing and closure.
Improved Relationships
As you learn more about your own shadows, you may find that you become more empathetic and compassionate towards others. Understanding your own struggles can enhance your communication and connection with loved ones.
Greater Emotional Resilience
Engaging with uncomfortable emotions can build resilience. Rather than avoiding or suppressing feelings, you learn to face them, which can lead to newfound strength during challenging times.
Enhanced Creativity
Exploring the shadow self can unlock creativity and deeper self-expression. Many artists and creators find that confronting their fears and vulnerabilities enhances their work and fuels inspiration.
Authenticity
Shadow work encourages you to embrace all parts of yourself, leading to greater authenticity. As you integrate your shadows, you can live more genuinely, aligning your actions with your true self.
Personal Empowerment
By taking responsibility for your inner world, you reclaim your power. This process can lead to more intentional choices in life and a stronger sense of direction.
Remember, this journey requires patience and self-compassion.
The insights gained can lead to profound transformations and a more fulfilling life, fostering a stronger sense of peace and freedom.
archetypes
In the modality that we use, we explore Archetypes as a way to explore our selves...
Archetypes, as proposed by Carl Jung, are universal, symbolic patterns or themes often depicted as characters that exist within the collective unconscious of humanity.
It is suggested that Jung was in part inspired by the characters of Greek mythos, historic texts, and folklore and also more esoteric tools such as Tarot decks and how they represent characteristics of human behaviours and roles in a societal, cultural context (i.e - King, Queen, Joker, Page etc)
He expanded this extensively (creating and developing numerous Archetypal characters) and developed a way of categorising these traits, to better reflect upon and understand people and the way we relate to ourselves and each other.
It is not necessary to know a lot about or fully understand them to do Shadow Work at all, rather, they serve as templates for understanding various aspects of the human experience and influence behaviour, thoughts, and emotions.
In Shadow Work Group Work we use the Archetypes to explore ourselves and create a container (strong, safe group) in order to do our work in an environment that's based on openness, safety and respect.
If you are interested in reading more about Archetypes, how we can learn from them and how we use them in Shadow Work click below