As therapists, we know the power of naming something. You’ve probably heard this before . . .
. . . you have to name it to tame it.
Well, not only does that sound catchy, but there’s a wealth of research to back it up.
So when it comes to working with the parts of clients that they would do anything to avoid or keep hidden (we often refer to this as the shadow side), simply putting a name to them can make a profound difference.
That’s why we created the infographic below as a psychoeducational tool to share with clients.
It helps break down the neuroscience of why naming shadow parts can help decrease the fear, pain, and shame that surround them.
Have a look.
Click the image to enlarge
We all have a shadow side, or parts of ourselves that we don’t want the rest of the world to see.
Some of these parts can be especially terrifying – or even excruciating – to explore. That’s because they often stir up difficult feelings like anxiety, fear, or shame.
But by simply naming these shadow parts, we can help quiet the unpleasant emotions and look at our shadow from a new perspective.
The reason why lies in two key areas of the brain . . .
-Amygdala
The amygdala is the part of the brain that plays a key role in detecting and responding to danger. When the amygdala is activated, you’re more likely to experience anxiety, panic, fear, anger, or aggression.
-Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that’s responsible for complex processes like logic, rational cognition, and self-control. When the prefrontal cortex is activated, you’re better able to regulate your thoughts and emotions.
Shadow parts can instantaneously and unconsciously activate the amygdala, making it more likely you’ll experience unpleasant emotions and sensations. But the simple act of naming your shadow parts can divert brain activity from the amygdala to the prefrontal cortex, giving you a greater sense of control over the most difficult parts of yourself.
Once you’ve named your shadow side to help gain a sense of control over it, you might begin to explore, or even welcome it by:
-Talking to a Therapist
-Journal Writing
-Creating Art
-Attending Support Groups
(If you’re sharing this infographic, please be sure to include the copyright information. We put a lot of work into creating these resources for you. Thanks!)
If you’d like to print a copy, just use one of these links:
If you’d like to hear more practical strategies to skillfully work with your client’s shadow, check out How to Help Your Client Integrate and Heal Their Shadow Parts.
This course features Bessel van der Kolk, MD; Janina Fisher, PhD; Stephen Porges, PhD; Terry Real, MSW, LICSW; Pat Ogden, PhD; Thema Bryant, PhD; and more.
Now we’d like to hear your takeaways from this infographic. You can leave a comment below to let us know.
This just supports the work I’m already doing with Internal Family Systems (IFS)! Naming the Parts isn’t necessarily part of that model but it seems like it could be very helpful. So, thanks!
Thanks for your supportive work at NICABM! Those graphics are really a ressource for my practice, as they always allow deeper understanding in a joyful way. What looks small from the outside often leads to deep effects within.
When working with my clients we do parts work as part of the RTT process. My specialty is confidence and helping them find their authentic voice. We easily release old emotional baggage through our RTT session and supplement strengthening the voice through affirmations, a customized recording and Journaling. I also recommend use of The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. This book provokes positive change in perspective and synchronicity.
I’ve used this concept in my practice for over 40 years and love it!
Love the infographic ty
in the UK the colloquial name is known as ‘the barking dog’ and as is well known some dogs morethan others get bad name; the naming of systemic invalidation (prejudice, discrimination and oppression) is as crucial an intervention as any, no? see the footage of the very recent “Harehills Roits, Leeds” for the real time impact of…
yet our desire for taming is problematic, no? as with all complexity the urge to simplify or sensemake is premised upon, what? much of what we know is incomplete and as with the management of trauma we learn the counterintuitive too! i like Julie Reshe and her approach of Negative Psychoanalysis for this very reason as it echoes the adage of ‘we all know more than we can tell’ (Polyani) ~ a theme captured by the neurobiology and physiology of trauma but this too is, inevitably, incomplete. our under-standing of trauma work relational to the insights gained from the with-standings of ~ any taming ought to be treated with caution as the object-subject splitting is itself a manifest consequence of facticity (Heidegger) and the absence(s) Adorno and forgottenness (Heidegger) eluded to by Keirkegaardian notions of abandonment.
I think I understand what you’re saying. For some time now, I experience the duality and wack-a-mole game that therapy can engage in. Clients come wanting to feel happy, but inevitably finds that happiness can’t be found and just when they stop looking they feel happy, then try to hold on to it, and poof it’s gone again. I think some therapists myself included, start seeing that there is a different way to approach life. But, can be hard, because that desire might not be therapeutically aligned with what the client is asking for. And if one worry shaman or some other spiritual healer, I suppose that the client would know what they were getting into. Some of my clients, are aligned with looking at their philosophy of life and their place in it and others want something different for themselves……. even if it seems to me, that what they want is another protector or some distraction or I guess what you might call in the old lingo A coping technique. I do like internal family systems and I also like Gabor Mate’s compassionate inquiry. I do sense more and more of that maybe less thinking and more experiencing hold some keys. I’m not studied in the great philosophers other than secondary works and some classes in University. But, with that in mind, I have had several clients holding advanced degrees and philosophy, who struggle like the best of us. sometimes, all the philosophy in the world doesn’t seem to calm the nervous system. Overall, I do appreciate the graphic and the perspective it is taking. but I do see the circularity and all of these concepts going round and round. some folks don’t really get that piece and that’s okay because maybe there’s another way to look at it, but the circularity of psychological and even anatomical constructs, sometimes just keeps dancing around the problem! a client says to me that they think they have depression and we take a deep look at their life and their experiences. if that helps, which I have a bias toward, then great. still others tell me that they believe this is better understood as a biological disruption and they don’t see a point in talking about what they did to adapt to sadness early on. so in that case, they might be better served by an antidepressant. or some, tell me that they are depressed, or maybe anxious and inquire as to what the difference is. then several weeks later tell me that they read something about anhedonia and maybe that’s what’s causing their depression. if you’re reading this right now and you’re thinking what’s the difference between anhedonia and depression, and maybe those two words are just ways of describing experience that comes in life, you’re more like me. but if you want to tell me that anhedonia is really different than depression and that depression is a larger construct and anhedonia is something akin to the loss of joy, then you are maybe a doctor and maybe less like me. on the other hand, I suppose all of these concepts are interesting even if they aren’t helpful sometimes. all this to just say, that I think I know what you’re getting at and I have some of the same thoughts.
I love this, thank you so much! And what a great phrase “name it to tame it”! I will definitely use that with my clients.
I am grateful
It helps 🌸
Yet I miss the region of insula and Cingulum involved in mindfulness and higher consciousness and self compassion
They get stronger in the course of naming too and ensure naming is Not an automatic but deep act