Jungian Analysis
... In psychology, which springs from and acts upon real life, we can no longer appeal to the narrowly intellectual, scientific standpoint, but are driven to take account of the standpoint of feeling ... In practical psychology we are dealing not with any generalized human psyche, but with individual human beings and the multitudinous problems that oppress them. A psychology that satisfies the intellect alone can never be practical, for the totality of the psyche can never be grasped by intellect alone.
C.G. Jung, Two Essays on Analytical Psychology, §201
C.G. Jung, Two Essays on Analytical Psychology, §201
C.G. Jung
The Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist C.G. Jung (1875-1961) described himself as a pioneer and explorer of the uncharted mystery that is the human soul. He is acknowledged as one of the leading thinkers and depth psychologists of his time. He contributed substantially with his Analytical Psychology to a deeper understanding of human psychology and mental disorders.
In 1913, after a long personal and professional relationship with Sigmund Freud, Jung and Freud parted ways over irreconcilable differences in their views on psychological concepts and theory. Although the parting was painful, Jung knew that he needed to find his own footing in his work and a new approach toward his work with patients. With the spirit of an adventurer, he went on to develop his theories on the life of the psyche out of which came the birth of Analytical Psychology. His contributions include the discovery of the Collective Unconscious and Archetypes as well as unique theories on Complexes, Personality Types and Individuation. His findings are published in a comprehensive body of writings, which go far beyond the realms of psychology and psychiatry in their meaning for our times.
Some biographical details taken from ISAP Zurich website.
Photo courtesy of Janine Agar
Jungian Analysis
Above all, the Jungian approach to therapeutic work emphasizes the individuality of each client. Each person is unique. Therefore, analysis does not rely on prescribed theories and techniques in order to effect healing. Rather, it invites the healing wisdom that arises from each client's own inner life. It places trust in what spontaneously arises in the space between analyst and client. Analysis is a human encounter. Fundamentally it is the relationship between two people, analyst and analysand, that heals.
While Jung respected the value of exploring the past causes of wounding, he strongly emphasized that it was equally important to explore how destructive and repetitive patterns were inhibiting a person's life in the here and now. He felt that if we remained mired in endless analysis of the past we could never move forward into the flow of life. Jungian Analysis is oriented to the future. Where does your essential life energy want to take you now?
Dreamwork
Jungian analysis incorporates dream analysis in order to access the vital messages of the inner world and bring them into conscious awareness. However, do not be concerned if at first you do not remember your dreams. The unconscious also reveals itself through other creative outlets, such as art, music, dance, and journaling. Simply put, the unconscious is that living part of us that is unknown. Its messages most often compensate for the one-sided, rigid attitudes that keep us stuck in our lives. They give guidance and direction when we have lost our way.
The dream is a messenger of the soul. When we listen and attend to its message it can bring us to equilibrium and balance in our lives. However, the dream does not communicate with us through our ego based rational and linear language. Rather, it expresses itself in images, metaphor and symbols. The unconscious exists in time outside of time - past, present and future co-exist in a dimension beyond our topside world. A Jungian Analyst has specialized training to help you decipher the meaning of the seemingly strange and mysterious images that arise in dreams.
Individuation
Jung speaks of Individuation as the process of of becoming an "in-divisible" whole. Rather than seeking perfection, its goal is to seek completion. It is a process of becoming who and what you really are. Individuation is a lifelong pathway of discovery. Most often it takes on significant importance at the transitional passage at mid-life. Jungian Analysis offers the opportunity to re-discover your authentic personality and connect to the life of your soul. By attending to the guiding voice of the inner world, analysis offers a creative and compassionate approach to discovering balance, meaning and purpose in life.
The acorn that falls from the mother oak tree can only take root and grow into what nature has intended. It cannot become a pine tree, a birch or any other tree. It can only become an oak tree. Often we discover that in order to be accepted by our families or communities, schools or workplaces, we have adapted our personalities to meet the expectations of others. We may have bent and distorted our personality to resemble a pine tree when really, all along, we were meant to be an oak. This can cause acute distress in psyche, body, and spirit as we suffer the dissonance of being split off from our authentic personality. Most often we are not conscious of such adaptation - we really think we are a pine tree! It can be liberating to discover that you are not what happened to you, rather you can choose to become what you were always meant to be. It is never too late to re-discover the roots of your authentic being.
Above all, the Jungian approach to therapeutic work emphasizes the individuality of each client. Each person is unique. Therefore, analysis does not rely on prescribed theories and techniques in order to effect healing. Rather, it invites the healing wisdom that arises from each client's own inner life. It places trust in what spontaneously arises in the space between analyst and client. Analysis is a human encounter. Fundamentally it is the relationship between two people, analyst and analysand, that heals.
While Jung respected the value of exploring the past causes of wounding, he strongly emphasized that it was equally important to explore how destructive and repetitive patterns were inhibiting a person's life in the here and now. He felt that if we remained mired in endless analysis of the past we could never move forward into the flow of life. Jungian Analysis is oriented to the future. Where does your essential life energy want to take you now?
Dreamwork
Jungian analysis incorporates dream analysis in order to access the vital messages of the inner world and bring them into conscious awareness. However, do not be concerned if at first you do not remember your dreams. The unconscious also reveals itself through other creative outlets, such as art, music, dance, and journaling. Simply put, the unconscious is that living part of us that is unknown. Its messages most often compensate for the one-sided, rigid attitudes that keep us stuck in our lives. They give guidance and direction when we have lost our way.
The dream is a messenger of the soul. When we listen and attend to its message it can bring us to equilibrium and balance in our lives. However, the dream does not communicate with us through our ego based rational and linear language. Rather, it expresses itself in images, metaphor and symbols. The unconscious exists in time outside of time - past, present and future co-exist in a dimension beyond our topside world. A Jungian Analyst has specialized training to help you decipher the meaning of the seemingly strange and mysterious images that arise in dreams.
Individuation
Jung speaks of Individuation as the process of of becoming an "in-divisible" whole. Rather than seeking perfection, its goal is to seek completion. It is a process of becoming who and what you really are. Individuation is a lifelong pathway of discovery. Most often it takes on significant importance at the transitional passage at mid-life. Jungian Analysis offers the opportunity to re-discover your authentic personality and connect to the life of your soul. By attending to the guiding voice of the inner world, analysis offers a creative and compassionate approach to discovering balance, meaning and purpose in life.
The acorn that falls from the mother oak tree can only take root and grow into what nature has intended. It cannot become a pine tree, a birch or any other tree. It can only become an oak tree. Often we discover that in order to be accepted by our families or communities, schools or workplaces, we have adapted our personalities to meet the expectations of others. We may have bent and distorted our personality to resemble a pine tree when really, all along, we were meant to be an oak. This can cause acute distress in psyche, body, and spirit as we suffer the dissonance of being split off from our authentic personality. Most often we are not conscious of such adaptation - we really think we are a pine tree! It can be liberating to discover that you are not what happened to you, rather you can choose to become what you were always meant to be. It is never too late to re-discover the roots of your authentic being.
