What is shadow work — really? Not the journal prompts and aesthetic content you've seen on Instagram, but the actual depth psychological process Carl Jung was pointing to when he wrote about the unconscious.

In this episode I break down the Jungian model of the psyche, define the shadow and explain why it forms, and talk about what shadow work actually looks like in day to day life — which is a lot quieter and less dramatic than social media would have you believe.

I also get into common misconceptions, the difference between catharsis and integration, when trauma is involved and what that means for how you approach the work, and how to know if it's actually doing anything.

If you've been curious about shadow work but wanted something more grounded than what's circulating online, this one's for you.