My Story..

Discover My Story so far

My first encounter with Shadow Work was over ten years ago during a ManKind Project weekend. Initially, I was sceptical as I watched other men engage in short pieces of work on the carpet. But when it was my turn, something shifted. Despite resisting at first, I soon cracked open, overwhelmed by an immense sadness and feelings of isolation, which brought me back to difficult memories from my early childhood.

A year later, I found myself in a workshop in Devon, doing carpet work with a group of men facilitated by Rod Boothroyd. This time, I was focused on working through the grief of losing my first wife to cancer and the pain of my second marriage ending in divorce. I had already undergone several sessions of counselling to address a sudden onset of social anxiety, and I realised that unresolved grief was at the root of my anxiety.

The Shadow Work I did on the carpet with Rod was transformational. Speaking the words of grief to my wife and shedding tears in a beautifully held space had a profound impact on me. It allowed me to process my grief in an embodied way that traditional counselling hadn’t been able to achieve. This was the moment when I truly understood the power of Shadow Work.

When the opportunity arose to train as a Shadow Work practitioner with Rod Boothroyd and Marianne Hill through the Healing the Shadow organisation I was excited to take it. The two-year training program was a deeply enriching experience. My lifelong career in engineering was coming to an end, and this training offered me a new path—one where I could bring the healing power of this work to others and continue my personal growth.

As I continue to travel through my 60’s I am committed to helping others navigate their own shadows. I understand the pain of unresolved emotions and the power of healing.

I am here to support you on your journey, and share the benefits of shadow work with you.

Client Testimonials

I had been wanting to do Shadow work for some time. Being based in South Africa, I had struggled to find the right coach to assist me locally. I then looked for coaches based internationally that could assist me online. Richard responded promptly and was extremely professional from the outset. I found Richard to be kind, warm and empathetic and most importantly, he created a safe space for me to access and display the extreme levels of honesty and vulnerability required for shadow work, guiding me throughout the process. I can honestly say, having undertaken various forms of healing work, that this is the most powerful and transformative work that I have done to date. I highly recommend Richard to anyone wanting to explore, heal and integrate the shadow!

Jade South Africa

I visited Richard in the Forest of Dean in March 2022 for some shadow therapy. It was an incredibly enlightening and positive experience. I felt that Richard really listened to me and he guided through the session with patience and understanding. I will be seeing Richard again DP IoW

DP IoW

’ve had three sessions with Richard – the last one being a 5 hour intensive. In every session I have felt incredibly safely held, which has allowed me to go deeply into difficult and vulnerable places. Richard is warm and straightforward, and listens and observes deeply and without judgement. He is incredibly good at reflecting back in a way that allows new insight to emerge. He allows space and time when they are needed to fully feel or integrate, and I have never felt rushed or steered in any way. I noticed in the last session that I completely trusted him and the process – which allowed me to relax into paying full attention to the inner journey as it unfolded. I can wholeheartedly recommend him as a Healing The Shadow practitioner

Adam Stroud