KNOW YOUR TRUE SELF WITH SIT SHADOW WORK
Harness the power of shadow exploration and your unconscious through stories and images
SIT Shadow Work difference
There are many forms of shadow work found online, and most are not clinically tested or grounded in real healing experience. In contrast, SIT Shadow Work™ is a well-researched and proven approach.
It was developed by Dr Toula Gordillo using Jungian action research with numerous individuals for over a decade, ensuring that the work is both psychologically sound and effective in everyday life.
SIT Shadow Work uses evidence-based SIT tools to:
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Identify hidden emotional patterns
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Process suppressed fears and trauma
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Build self-awareness for meaningful change
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Use storytelling and guided imagery to support unconscious healing
The SIT Shadow Work Process
SIT Shadow Work follows a structured three step reflective process that may be completed individually in SIT therapy sessions, or within a support group or course:
Recognising unconscious patterns through symbolic stories, images, journaling and reflective questions. These activities help participants identify emotional triggers, recurring relationship patterns, stress responses and inner conflicts that may reflect underlying complexes or unresolved experiences.
Embracing these patterns without shame or self-criticism. Participants begin to understand why these behaviours developed, what emotional needs they were protecting, and how they may still influence current decisions and relationships. This stage encourages self-compassion and emotional honesty.
Integrating brings these patterns into conscious awareness so they no longer drive behaviour automatically and without conscious thought.
Your Stress Story
Many people find themselves repeating the same patterns in relationships, work and stressful situations. In Story Image Therapy (SIT), this repetition is understood as part of our stress story—the unconscious patterns we developed earlier in life to help us cope and survive, but may now be causing us stress or emotional distress.
To understand this process further, in SIT Shadow Work the symbolic frog and scorpion story and images helps explain this process. The inner frog represents our caring, generous and accommodating side, while the inner scorpion represents our protective, defensive and reactive side. Both are natural parts of the human psyche, but problems arise when either one operates without balance or awareness.
Through reflection, reading and therapeutic writing, SIT Shadow Work helps people notice these patterns more clearly. Stress becomes a signal that something needs attention, rather than a sign of failure.
Over time, this awareness helps individuals develop clearer boundaries, stronger emotional regulation and healthier relationships with others.
Questions about SIT Shadow Work
Find answers to common questions about SIT Shadow Work, its benefits, and how it can help you on your journey to Self. This is known as a process called “individuation”.