Befriending
the Shadow:

In C.G. Jung’s analysis, the modern person’s alienation from their own soul is at the root of many psychological, cultural and ecological problems. An important part of this estrangement has to do with our relationship with the “shadow”, those aspects of the psyche that are repressed and rejected because they seem unacceptable to the conscious personality. When left unexamined, shadow material constellates symptom formation, projection, moral inflation, and collective polarization. When engaged consciously, it can become a vital gateway in the process of individuation.

Through short lectures, guided experiential practices, reflective writing, and dialogical work, participants will engage shadow material as it appears in their lived experience rather than an abstract concept alone. Particular attention is given to working with projection and symbolic material in a way that supports ego–Self relatedness rather than premature integration or spiritual bypassing.  In a supportive and mindful learning environment, participants learn to encounter shadow phenomena with curiosity, discernment, and care in personal, therapeutic and cultural life.

Shadow work supports personal growth and individuation:

· Deepened self-awareness and relational capacity: Through a clearer understanding of personal shadow dynamics, one develops emotional insight, reduced reactivity, and ultimately more authentic, grounded relationships.

· Greater skill in navigating cultural and interpersonal tensions: By recognizing projection and collective shadow processes, one becomes more equipped to engage difference, conflict, and polarization with curiosity, discernment, and maturity.

· A stronger connection to the deeper Self: Through conscious engagement with disowned aspects of the psyche, one can experience a renewed sense of inner coherence, vitality, and alignment with their deeper psychological center.

This 4-week experiential course offers a depth-psychological inquiry into personal and collective dimensions of the shadow, grounded in Jung’s model of the psyche and informed by post-Jungian developments. Participants are invited to explore how shadow dynamics operate intrapsychically and in the field between self and other, as well as within cultural and historical contexts.

Week 1: Intro to the Shadow
Week 2: Shadow in Family and Intimate Relationships
Week 3: Shadow in Professional and Spiritual Environments
Week 4: Shadow in Society and Culture

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Befriending the Shadow

A Jungian Experiential Inquiry

with Helge Michael Osterhold, PhD

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4 Thursdays
starting May 14, 2026

4-6pm pacific / 7-9pm eastern
Live via Zoom + Video recording will be available to all guests

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Dr. Helge Osterhold

Dr. Helge Osterhold is a psychotherapist, purpose guide, and a member of CIIS’ East-West Psychology’s core faculty, where he teaches courses in Jungian Psychology, Archetypal Psychology, Dreamwork, Spiritual Counseling, and the Psychology of Death and Dying. For 10 years, Dr. Osterhold served at the University of California San Francisco, in pediatric palliative care and as an educator and program director on mindful caregiving and clinician resiliency at UCSF Children's Hospital and faculty at UCSF School of Medicine. Originally from Germany, he pursued higher education in California, earning a B.A. in Human Relations, M.A. in Integral Counseling Psychology, and Ph.D. in East-West Psychology. He is a licensed psychotherapist and maintains a depth-oriented private psychotherapy practice with a focus on life transitions.