Analytical psychology or Jungian psychotherapy is an approach based on the psychological theories that Carl Jung developed in the first part of the 20th Century. Also called depth psychotherapy, its aim is to restore a balance between conscious and unconscious contents of the individual's psyche in order to bring relief from and meaning to psychological suffering. Ultimately, Jungian psychotherapy aims for the individual to "self-realise" and become whole.
How does one bring the unconscious into consciousness? Both Freud and Jung agreed, and modern neuroscience today is confirming their early observations and studies, that information that by-passes the filters of the rational mind (words, thoughts, logic...) brings into consciousness aspects of ourselves that we either didn't know about or that had been long forgotten. Very rich information is brought about by dreams as well as any creative endeavour such as drawing, painting, movement, music, imagination... and also by the body itself when changes occur suddenly - and without the individual having any control over the change - in the tone of voice, the posture or the gaze, or at a physiological level with blushing or sweating... What happens in the sessions? As a rule, I do not know what is best for you, as by definition, the unconscious is what is not known, and I do not have ready made answers. Instead it is in the dialogue and through a mutual process that these answers may become clear. Meeting face to face for 50 minutes at a time, once or twice weekly depending on your needs, we pay attention to day-to-day events, situations and inter-personal relationships, to the personal story and trans-personal histories, as much as to dreams, imagination or any creative interest and production. By uncovering these aspects of ourselves, potentially positive, which had been locked away for various reasons, and which in the long run may have created a feeling of having lost control or a deep dissatisfaction with life itself, we aim to restore a sense of meaning, well-being and equilibrium. |