Shadow Work
What is commonly known as our Shadow aspect these days is often based in Jungian theory on the buried traits of an individual’s personality or psyche (or both). The work that it takes to identify, address and even embrace these hidden traits is not easy, but is incredibly self-empowering. In order to be our Authentic Selves, it is necessary to recognize and honor all aspects of our personalities. Through that honest approach, negative or undesirable aspects are acknowledged for what they are and how they came to be. They are worked through and become part of our education and a tool for better understanding ourselves and others. Understanding and integrating both sides of our nature boosts genuine confidence by removing negative self-talk, reduces stress by building healthy boundaries and learning when to engage and when to walk away, and provides a clearer perspective of the individual in the mirror.
There are as many approaches to Shadow Work as there are Shadow Workers, and while the methods may differ, the goal is the same: to reach Authenticity and break free of knee-jerk reactions and feelings of victim-hood and helplessness. My methods are relatively simple and tailored to the individual. I offer safe space and support to take the deep dive, and structure to assist in working through, and with, those findings, with honesty and compassion. Keep in mind that this is NOT therapy, and I am not a mental health practitioner, and if traumas arise that need to be addressed with a MH professional, I will address that with you and tailor our sessions to complement therapy, never to replace it. My end goal is to assist you to your best Self.
This work will also help you to recognize positive aspects that you may have forgotten or buried and refused, on some level, to believe existed. Through SW, we will bring those to the surface and you will be able to implement them in a healthy manner. As your coach, my role is primarily to help you weed out the things you do not need, better understand those aspects you do not wish to be ruled by, and to discover the tools and wisdom already dwelling inside you.
Below is a break down of the stages of the work we will do together:
- Self-Awareness: Looking in the Mirror and beginning to identify
- Honesty: Addressing root cause
- Self-Healing: Compassionate approach to self-talk
- Own Your Projections: How has this manifested in daily life?
- Journaling
- Coexisting: Putting new information into practice
“Because one tends to reject or remain ignorant of the least desirable aspects of one’s personality, the shadow is largely negative. There are, however, positive aspects that may also remain hidden in one’s shadow (especially in people with low self-esteem, anxieties, and false beliefs)”. (Young-Eisendrath, P. and Dawson, T. (1997). The Cambridge Companion to Jung., Cambridge University Press, p. 319)