The psychological concept of the 'shadow' has not always been fully appreciated by those not grounded in analytical psychology. Yet an understanding of the potentially harmful aspects of themselves and of their professional role can be extremely useful to practitioners across the spectrum of therapeutic approaches, offering counsellors a means of comprehending their personal and professional experience. Using examples from both personal and professional settings, The Shadow and the Counsellor introduces the concept of shadow, examines how it comes into being and explores its impact within the counselling context. It considers how the counsellors work may be affected by identifying and incorporating material from the shadow into conscious awareness, and applies the concept of shadow to the role of counsellor and counselling itself.
