What is it in a particular person who seeks care that invites our less conscious selves—our shadows—to join us in our professional work? By merely presenting themselves for treatment, how does a client/patient engage our shadows, especially in moments of ethical choice?
Jung's concept of the shadow represents a part of us that typically remains unconscious, and often unwanted. Anticipated or not, an encounter with a certain client/patient who causes us discomfort can awaken our shadow, leaving us vulnerable in our therapeutic relationships and processes. That unacknowledged part of ourselves—most often born of our psychological wounds and personal histories—can easily step forward and shift the character of our work. Such a shift can easily increase the risk for ethical errors as we work.
Using lecture, film clips, discussion, and individual and group exercises, we will work together to discover and explore ways of identifying and relating to the presence of shadow, both personal and collective. In the end, the opportunity for more conscious, more ethical choices—regarding which step to take, which course to pursue—will hopefully provide us with much-needed support for our therapeutic work.
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