Jungian Therapy

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist who was very active in the early 20th century. He was Sigmund Freud’s protege but ended up parting ways over differing ideas on the subconscious.

Jung could not get on board with the idea that the majority of our mental development relied on the nature of libido and sexual development.

He also did not believe that the unconscious was merely a storage space for repressed emotions and desires.

Instead, he believed that most of our mental suffering stemmed from a distressed “soul,” which is the original meaning of the Greek word “psyche,” and that connecting the soul and consciousness was key to improved mental health.

Carl Jung’s approach to psychology has influenced many therapy types and provided us with popular concepts such as “extroversion” and “introversion,” as well as the Myers-Briggs personality test.

Jungian therapy focuses on determining the source of a person’s problems more so than symptoms or manifestations.

In his work, Carl Jung believed that an individual’s repressed memories and experiences referred to as “shadows,” combined with the collective unconscious results in an imbalance between the unconscious mind and conscious awareness.

This, he believed, could have a detrimental effect on one’s emotional health.

Still today, Jungian therapy incorporates many core concepts developed by Carl Jung during his practice:

Archetypes

A central concept in Jungian therapy is the idea of archetypes. These are universal patterns of behavior and experience that are often represented in symbolism and mythology.

Common archetypes include:

• The shadow: The part of our personalities we prefer to hide.
• The persona: The part of our personalities that we show to the world.
• The hero: The aspect of our personalities that thrive on challenge.
• The wise person: The part of our personalities that deal with rationalism, habits, control, and discipline.

Archetypes are merely ideas to help individuals deeply understand how their personalities function in order to improve their mental health.

Complexes

Complexes are psychic structures that provide a central theme of one’s personality that a therapist and client can focus on.

These structures are commonly seen in the forms of a victim complex, an inferiority complex, and an authority complex.

Symbols

Symbols are images that carry meaning and can transform and redirect instinctive energy. Forming a direct connection with our own personal symbols can help us reach mental well-being.

Dreams

The above core concepts of Jungian therapy can be represented in our dreams. During Jungian therapy, dreams can be used to explore new and beneficial perspectives.

Dreams communicate feelings and experiences that the dreamer may not be fully aware of, providing an opportunity to process issues lying in the unconscious mind.

Jungian therapy focuses on the present and future, it does not dwell on the past. This is a helpful approach for those who need help working through painful past experiences.

By exploring the subconscious, Jungian therapy can help encourage creativity, especially through therapy techniques such as art, poetry, and writing.

Once a person better understands the underlying meaning of their problems, it can help give them a sense of control and self-confidence.

Jungian therapy also encourages individuals to understand their feelings and thoughts without judgment, allowing them to live more authentically as their true selves.