“At its core, shadow work involves delving into the depths of your psyche to uncover and embrace aspects of yourself that you have suppressed, denied, or rejected,” explained Amanda Stretcher, MA, LPC-S, of Choosing Therapy.
Shadow work may have recently gained TikTok traction, but it’s nothing new.
Kennedy noted that Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, introduced the concept in the 20th century. The idea centers on the idea that every person has a “shadow self.”
“The shadow self is psychological material that has not been integrated — because it is too painful, uncomfortable or out of conscious understanding,” Kennedy said.
“Most people have shadow self elements that develop in response to situations that feel overwhelming, foreign, and frightening. They likely have been using it as a coping strategy to avoid discomfort. However, it ultimately holds them back from a full, authentic life.“
If you’re reading this piece as an adult, chances are your shadow self developed long ago without realizing it.
“The development of a shadow self typically begins in childhood when you internalize societal norms, parental expectations, and cultural conditioning,” said Stretcher. “As you grow, certain aspects of your personality become unacceptable or unmanageable, leading you to push them into your unconscious mind. These repressed aspects collectively form your shadow self.”
Shadow work helps remove these parts of ourselves from the shadows.
“Through shadow work, you can make space for all parts of self, including the parts that you tend to think of as the worst,” Stretcher said. “Shadow work can allow you to begin to feel more whole.”
Speaking of parts, “parts work” is a term and tool used in therapy — including by Minter. What’s the difference? Not much, really.
“Parts work is an approach that comes from Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy,” Minter said.
“It involves the idea that our psyche or personhood is made up of different ‘parts’ or sub-personalities, each with its own thoughts, feelings, and motivations.”
Minter noted that people using parts work aim to “identify and explore these different parts, understand their roles, and at some point reach inner peace and integration by creating ways of communication between them and help them work together.”
