SIT Shadow Work
Regular shadow work helps a person to recognise their unresolved unconscious issues. SIT Shadow Work™ does this… and more
What is SIT Shadow Work?
The shadow self is a concept originating from Jung’s psychology. According to Jung, our personality includes the persona (personality we show to the public) and the shadow self (personality which remains private or hidden). Unlike the persona, our shadow self includes all the traits we not like to show. The shadow is not, however, just a negative or shameful part of our personality. It is an important part of our psyche, and the goal of SIT Shadow Work is to assimilate the shadow and persona so we can learn to manage our impulses that we usually ignore. These can include emotions such as fear, anger, loneliness or spite. In Story Image Therapy and SIT Shadow Work, they are known as ‘fearful frog’ or ‘stinging scorpion’ motivation or behaviour. Not only does SIT Shadow Work help us to integrate our conscious and unconscious influences, it also helps us to integrate the unconscious societal influences that also affect the shadow (unconscious) part of our personality. This includes the collective memories and impulses of society as a whole.
Who is our Shadow Self?
The famous Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, Dr Carl Jung, was the first person to talk about our shadow self. By this, he meant the dark side of our personality. It’s the part that we keep hidden, suppressed/repressed, or don’t wish to acknowledge. Most often, we are not even aware of its existence… until we are triggered.
If we had significant problems and pain during our teen years, these can leave an invisible scar. We may have experienced emotions such as intense confusion, felt as though we were abandoned, thought we were inadequate and not good enough etc. We must learn to work through these feelings as a teenager, and how to make meaning out of them, or they will likely continue to cause us pain well into our adult years.
Emotions are often exaggerated during adolescence, so whatever we may have felt will likely be magnified. Pleasant events can lead to euphoria when things are going well. We can experience intense excitement for the future, and our first love can bring a roller-coaster of emotions we’ve never felt before. Unpleasant events, however, can also lead us into the deep pit of adolescent despair when things are not going well.
If we don’t deal with our adolescent issues during our teen years, our psychological ‘wounds’ will lie dormant until we experience a situation that is somehow reminiscent of what we experienced as an adolescent. When we are triggered, for example, we will likely overreact to the situation, acting in an irrational manner almost as if our teenage self has emerged. Sometimes we can feel like we have reverted to feeling like a moody teenager again, screaming to be heard!
What are the signs you’ve done SIT Shadow Work?
Practitioners of SIT Shadow Work often say it helps them to:
- Identify and counteract their negative personal traits and those promoted by society
- Be more accepting of themselves and the faults of others
- Understand the challenges others face in integrating their shadow selves
- Confront trauma, grief and other challenging emotions
- Understand how society, childhood, and other relationships influence their lives and interactions
- Motivate positive acts, such as finding, confronting and embracing their implicit biases that can have significant effects on our daily life.
- Though we usually don’t think about them, or their influences, when you have completed SIT Shadow Work effectively, you will likely unconsciously display the 7 Signs.
Amazon Book Blurb 1
For Broader Population
Unlock your workplace secrets with Frog and Scorpion in the Boardroom, Dr Toula’s ground-breaking new book that introduces Story Image Therapy (SIT®) as a revolutionary method for personal and professional growth. This corporate fairy tale dives deep into the dynamics of office politics using the powerful metaphor of the Frog and Scorpion—archetypes that reveal our inner conflicts and shadow selves.
Perfect for individuals and teams in corporate, government, and non-government settings, Story Image Therapy Shadow Work® guides you in recognizing, embracing, and integrating your inner Frog and Scorpion shadow.
Complete the journey to your corporate shadow self with The Boardroom Shadow Work Workbook, a must-have companion for anyone ready to embark on their own SIT Shadow Work. Grounded in doctoral research and evidence-based practices, this workbook is an essential part of Dr Toula’s SIT Solutions workshops and training programs. Both Boardroom books are an essential part of training for those seeking to become certified Story Image Therapists.
Amazon Book Blurb 2
For More Specific Shadow Work practitioners
Elevate your shadow work practice with Frog and Scorpion in the Boardroom, Dr Toula’s innovative guide that introduces Story Image Therapy (SIT®) as a powerful tool for deepening your work with clients, and within yourself. This book explores the metaphor of the Frog and Scorpion, archetypes that bring hidden inner conflicts to light, offering profound insights into the dynamics of the workplace and beyond.
Designed for seasoned and less experienced shadow work practitioners, this book provides a fresh approach to shadow work. Through the symbolic STORY & IMAGES presented here, you can help guide your clients in recognizing, embracing, and integrating their inner Frog and Scorpion shadow self. Whether you or your clients are working in corporate, government, or non-government settings, SIT Shadow Work® can enhance your ability to foster deeper self-awareness, communication, personal and professional transformation.
Complementing this Frog and Scorpion in the Boardroom book is The Boardroom Shadow Work Workbook. An essential SIT tool for practitioners looking to master SIT Shadow Work™, the workbook and other SIT tools are grounded in doctoral research and evidence-based practices. The accompanying workbook is integral to Dr Toula’s SIT Solutions certification programs, offering you the opportunity to become a certified Story Image Therapist and expand your professional toolkit. Please contact Dr Toula and her team at www.shadoworksolutions.com for more details.
Perfect for individuals and teams in corporate, government, and non-government settings, Story Image Therapy Shadow Work® guides you in recognizing, embracing, and integrating your inner Frog and Scorpion shadow.
Complete the journey to your corporate shadow self with The Boardroom Shadow Work Workbook, a must-have companion for anyone ready to embark on their own SIT Shadow Work. Grounded in doctoral research and evidence-based practices, this workbook is an essential part of Dr Toula’s SIT Solutions workshops and training programs. Both Boardroom books are an essential part of training for those seeking to become certified Story Image Therapists.