The Shadow Work Self-Reflection Deck: Cards for Healing Your Trauma and Exploring Your Hidden Self

by Jor-El Caraballo

100 pages

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Jor-El Caraballo is a licensed therapist and cofounder of Viva Wellness, a therapy practice based in New York City. Caraballo received a BA in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and MA and EdM degrees in psychological counseling from the Teachers College at Columbia University. He has been featured as a mental health expert across many magazines and websites, including Mind Body Green, Men’s Health, Healthline, Insider, Self, and more, sharing advice and insight on self-care, interpersonal relationships, dealing with trauma, and more.

Reviews

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been SO obsessed with this deck of cards! I am the type of person where I may or may not pick up a full blown work book everyday or even weekly. But with this deck I’ve been drawing a card a couple of times during the week and writing the prompt down in a journal where I can spend some time answering it…then also have my progress and what not written down! I’ve been finding this deck to be super helpful in trudging through some areas of my life and past that aren’t the easiest to dig into or maybe into an area that I wouldn’t think is as affected but might still need work. These cards are also GORGEOUSLY made.

Been meaning to get into shadow work?! This comes highly recommended by me!

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all the stress and tension in the world right now, I’ve been trying to spend a little time each day strengthening not just my physical core, but my emotional one too. So far, I’ve been doing pretty well — focusing on my diet, my physical health, and my mental wellness.

So when I saw The Shadow Work Self‑Reflection Deck: Cards for Healing Your Trauma and Exploring Your Hidden Self by Jor‑El Caraballo, LMHC, it felt like the right tool at the right moment.

This deluxe card set and guidebook walk you through the basics of preparing yourself to gently explore your “shadow self” — the place where old hurts, fears, and sadness often get tucked away. I know that sounds intimidating at first. Who wants to revisit the things we’ve worked so hard to forget?

But this deck did something different for me.
It invited me to peek behind that “No‑No Curtain” and begin making sense of what was there. Each card offers a prompt that encourages introspection, explains why the shadow exists and how it functions, and then provides thoughtful questions at the bottom to help guide your reflection in a grounded, productive way.

As always, please take care of yourself while doing this kind of work. If a card brings up discomfort, resistance, or feelings that feel too heavy to hold alone, it’s completely okay to pause and step back. And if something you discover feels overwhelming, reaching out to a licensed mental health professional can offer grounding, clarity, and support. This deck is a tool for reflection, not a substitute for therapy — please care for yourself as you explore.