7 Common Shadow Traits Of The Wounded Healer

When we think of the wounded healer, we often picture the therapist, coach, healer, or Doctor who feels called to help others because of their own experiences of pain, struggle, or suffering.

Yet the positive and shadow traits of the wounded healer exist within us all. Every healer, therapist, coach, and practitioner carries different traits of this archetype.

Alongside our gifts and expertise are our unconscious wounds, patterns, and shadow traits that influence how we show up in our work.

To serve others with greater integrity, these are the aspects of ourselves we must be willing to recognise, face, and heal.

7 Shadow Traits Of The Wounded Healer

7 Common Shadow Traits Of The Wounded Healer That May Be Sabotaging Your Work And Success.

Not Doing The Inner Work

One of the more common shadow traits of the wounded healer is not doing the inner work.

We see this in healers or practitioners who practice on others but don’t invest enough in their own healing and spiritual growth.

Sometimes so focused on getting that next certificate or training course to add to their resume. They struggle to make big shifts in their personal or spiritual development because they’re applying the learning into their own life.

It is one of the main reasons why I only invest in healers who actually invest in their own learning, healing, and growth.

Shadow Alchemist Or Shadow Magician

The shadow alchemist, or even the dark magician, demonstrates not just the shadow aspects of fantasy, illusion, and manipulation.

Like the young sorcerer, they are so fascinated by what appears to be magic or miracles that they dabble with all sorts of techniques without proper training, safe, effective practice, deep understanding, or any sort of mastery.

The shadow alchemist archetype can also proclaim or imply all sorts of transformations to their audience without knowing for sure if they can repeat this success for all clients.

Constantly Rescuing Others Or Over Helping Others

The over-rescuer and over-helper are common shadow traits of the wounded healer.

For example, the Rescuer archetype, Helper, or Caregiver Archetype are all archetypes that are very aware of other people’s pain and suffering and can get so entangled in other people’s needs and wants that they become very detached from their own. ( see Unruly Empath)

That is why so many Caregiver Types regularly suffer from compassion fatigue, empathy burnout, exhaustion, and, in some, chronic fatigue disorders. Hey, this is one I know too well.

God Complex And Saviour Complex

The saviour and god complex in the healing and medical field is a bigger problem than most think. It is those with such a high level of arrogance and an unshakable belief in their abilities, knowledge, and authority that they think they can never be wrong.

In the healing world, it can show up as a psychological construct where you think you are the one person who is there to heal someone, or deliberately seek people you think NEED TO be healed or SAVED BY you.

Believing you’re the one person here to heal someone can be a dangerous shadow trait of the wounded healer. It can be extremely disempowering for the patient or client and, in some cases, is a very serious form of control and abuse.

Unruly Empath

The unruly empath is extremely highly sensitive and so emotionally and energetically entangled in other people’s pain and suffering.

This unhealthy empath absorbs a lot of the pain, energy, and suffering from the people and world around them. They find it extremely difficult to set healthy boundaries and to discern their own energy, thoughts, and emotions from the people around them, even their clients and students.

You Believe You Are A Fully Healed Healer

Another common shadow trait of the wounded healer includes assuming that you’re fully healed and have no wounds. I have heard this too many times from healers calling out other healers who, according to them, are not fully healed.

I can tell you I have personally gone to hundreds of healers and practitioners for help over the last 35 years. Many are regarded as top healers in their country and some around the world.

And I have never met a healer or practitioner who is fully healed. We all have some sort of shadow traits or dis-ease that needs healing. Some people’s wounds are, yes, sometimes more obvious than others. Everyone has their own unique and personal healing journey that you will never fully comprehend.

Healing Wounded Healer Shadow Traits

Every healer, coach, and practitioner holds Shadow Traits of the Wounded Healer that create challenges in our life, work, or even business. The more we shine light and awareness on those wounds, the more we become better healers, teachers, and empowerers, hold more light, and become more successful business owners.

You can learn more in my foundation to understanding the healer within.