Sascha Michel

Certified Shadow Work® Group facilitator and 1 to 1 coach

I am foremost a father. I am also the CEO of a scale-up technology company. Most of my life runs fast. Integrate the Shadow is my passion project, but it's also the work that opens something in me. It shapes how I show up as a father, in my relationships, and in the work I do.

For over twenty years I'd been doing the work. Personal development, workshop after workshop, yoga, meditation, coaching, health and wellness, process work, men's groups, different approaches. All of it useful. None of it quite reaching the thing I was carrying. Shadow Work® got underneath it. There was something I'd been carrying for years that other approaches kept approaching without landing. This work did. That was fourteen years ago.

I first came across Shadow Work through the Mankind Project, where I spent over a decade in men's work and group work. That's where the roots are. Today I primarily facilitate co-gender groups, working with both men and women.

Alongside this, I've spent years scaling my own business, and I hold an MSc in Organisational Change and Strategy. That comes from a genuine passion for culture, people, and leadership development. Running my own business has also given me real insight into the weight that founders and leaders carry. The pressure, the isolation, the gap between how things look from the outside and what's actually going on inside.

My belief is that life and work are completely intertwined. The shift that needs to happen at work often has to happen somewhere else first. In our relationships at home. In our relationship with our parents. In our relationship with ourselves. The shadow doesn't stay home when you go to work.

I believe we all have shadow work to do, and that it doesn't end. I still do this work myself. As a facilitator, that ongoing commitment matters. It's what keeps the integrity of the work.

Shadow Work® certification

I have been certified by John and Nicola Kurk, who brought Shadow Work to the UK in 1993. The original source of the work originated from the U.S, led by Cliff Barry, see origins of Shadow Work. My group Mentor is John Kurk and my coaching mentor is Gautier Hankenne.

To become a certified Shadow Work® coach or facilitator, one must follow specific training and certification paths. This includes a series of comprehensive training sessions and a mentoring process.

The Shadow Work Certification Path (500+ hours)

Shadow Work® is a U.S registered trademark and only certified Shadow Work® coaches and facilitators are licensed to use the term Shadow Work®.

Basic Facilitator Training (BFT)

This course provides foundational Shadow Work facilitation skills using the Four-Quarter Model. It is an experiential training focusing on practical skills in diverse scenarios.

Advanced Facilitator Training (AFT)

Building upon the BFT, this intensive course deepens understanding of human wounds and behaviours. It teaches advanced facilitation techniques.

Leader Training (LT)

Tailored for those aspiring to lead Shadow Work groups, this training focuses on skill development for creating a safe and trusting group environment and effectively running a Shadow Work seminar. It also enhances understanding of the emotional dynamics in Shadow Work processes.

Coaching Training (CT)

Essential for individual coaching, this training focuses on creating a safe space for clients and adapting group techniques for one-on-one sessions. It includes working online, client screening, and exploring creative coaching techniques. Prerequisites for CT include completing the BFT, AFT, and enrollment in or completion of the Shame Lifters Online Training.

The Certification Process

Achieving certification as a Shadow Work® coach or facilitator requires completing the necessary training courses, followed by an extensive period of practice groups and mentoring exceeding 500 hours. For group facilitators, this includes co-leading a full Shadow Work® seminar while being observed by a mentor. Coaches, in addition to the above, must demonstrate proficiency in all Shadow Work tools and maintain a shame-free, safe environment for participants. Mentors oversee this process to ensure all required standards are met.

Ongoing Development and Recertification

Certified Shadow Work® coaches and group facilitators are required to renew their certification every two years.

This is done by attending a five-day retreat held in Europe, where facilitators are witnessed in their facilitation skills as well as stepping in as a participant and doing their own individual shadow work process. This maintains the highest level of integrity, ensures facilitators stay updated with the latest techniques and uphold highest standards of practice.

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