When we step into the role of therapist, coach, or healer, we carry more than theory and technique. We carry the fullness of who we are—our stories, our lived experiences, our values, and yes, our shadow. Shadow in therapy is not just with regard to the client. It’s the therapist too.
The shadow, as Carl Jung described it, is the part of the psyche where we store what feels unacceptable, threatening, or difficult to integrate. It may be made up of impulses we have judged, traits we have disowned, or patterns we have worked hard to keep out of sight. And yet, despite our best efforts, shadow inevitably makes its way into the room.
The Client’s Shadow
For clients, shadow may surface in moments of resistance, defensiveness, or projection. It can appear in the unspoken energy between words, in recurring patterns of avoidance, or in sudden emotional eruptions that seem larger than the present situation. A client’s shadow might look like chronic self-sabotage, difficulty trusting, or hostility aimed at the therapist.
When we attune to shadow—not as pathology, but as meaningful material—we begin to hear the deeper layers of a client’s story. Shadow offers a portal into unhealed wounds, unmet needs, and unseen aspects of self.
The Therapist’s Shadow
It’s tempting to think of ourselves as neutral, but the truth is that therapists are human beings with our own shadow terrain. Shadow may show up as:
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Countertransference — when our own unresolved material gets tangled up with the client’s process.
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Unconscious bias — subtle assumptions that shape how we hear or interpret a client’s story.
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Boundary issues — moments when our roles blur, whether through over-involvement or withdrawal.
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Emotional reactions — judgments, irritations, or attractions that catch us off guard, sometimes felt more in the body than in the mind.
These aren’t signs of failure; they are invitations to expand our self-awareness. Shadow work is what allows us to stay humble, honest, and attuned. When we acknowledge that our inner world is part of the room, we deepen the authenticity of the therapeutic relationship.
Shadow as a Teacher
Engaging with shadow—our own and our client’s—requires courage. It asks us to resist the urge to push away discomfort and instead hold it with curiosity. Shadow is not the enemy; it is a teacher. It asks:
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What in me is being stirred right now?
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What does this reaction reveal about my own unfinished work?
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How might my shadow be dancing with my client’s shadow in this very moment?
As we tend to these questions, we expand the therapist’s interior landscape. We become more grounded, more present, and more able to meet our clients in the depths of their humanity.
The Dance of Two Shadows
Therapy is never a one-way street. The client’s shadow and the therapist’s shadow are always in dialogue—sometimes colliding, sometimes colluding, sometimes silently circling one another. This interplay can bring tension into the work, but it can also bring clarity. If we are willing to reflect on the ways shadow moves between us, we gain a more nuanced understanding of the therapeutic relationship itself.
Reflection Prompts
To take this exploration further, you might pause with these guiding reflections:
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Think of a recent session where you sensed your client’s shadow was present—perhaps in resistance, projection, or unspoken tension. What did you notice, and how did it influence the process?
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Reflect on a moment when your own shadow may have entered the room—through judgment, countertransference, avoidance, or over-identification. How did you become aware of it, and how did it shape your engagement with the client?
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Consider how the client’s shadow and your own shadow may have been in dialogue—sometimes colliding, sometimes colluding, sometimes silently circling each other. What does this interplay reveal about the therapeutic relationship and about your own interior landscape as a practitioner?
Moving Forward
To engage the shadow is to honor the wholeness of the therapeutic encounter. It reminds us that the work is not just about helping clients heal, but about continuing to expand and evolve as practitioners ourselves. Shadow calls us to humility, to self-examination, and to an ever-deepening presence in the room.
