Psychologist Carl Jung believed that how we behave and what we say is only a small fraction of who we “really” are. Jungian psychotherapy centers around the thought of our buried unconscious that holds our true thoughts and emotions.

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What is Jungian Psychotherapy?

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Jungian psychotherapy is a talk therapy that focuses on the unconscious parts of our brain. Carl Jung, the creator of Jungian psychotherapy, believed that mental health issues and interpersonal problems occur when a person is unable to be their authentic self. He believed these happen when your true self is “stuck” in your unconsciousness. 

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The goal of Jungian psychotherapy is to bring unconscious parts of someone’s personality to the surface and align these parts with who the person thinks they are. This helps people feel balanced and whole.

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When you become aware of your unconscious self, according to Jung, you’re able to realize the areas you need to grow. This therapy method sees the unconscious as an ally and a guide through personal and psychological growth.

History of Jungian Psychotherapy 

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Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung garnered worldwide respect for his research on word association and somnambulism (sleepwalking). Although, most will know him from his relationship with Sigmund Freud. The two of them founded the International Psychoanalytical Association, but their friendship quickly faded.

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Psychology of the Unconscious was Jung’s work that broke his and Freud’s friendship. Freud considered the work not scientific enough and cited Jung’s differing view of libido as the moment Jung had “lost his way.” Jung de-emphasized sexual energy as a defining force for personal development. 

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Instead, Jung proposed that the collective unconscious is what propels personal development. This is the core of Jungian therapy.

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The Collective Unconscious 

The topic of the collective unconscious is what made certain peers in Carl Jung’s field “demote” him to “just a mystic”. 

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According to Jung, the collective unconscious is the collection of memories and thoughts inherited from our ancestors. It’s why some ideas found in ancient storytellers still hold true today and why we see universal symbolism in many works of art.

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Analytical Psychotherapy

After parting with Freud, Jung worked independently and began fleshing out what would be his life’s work. He called it analytical psychotherapy, but it is often called Jungian psychotherapy.

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His writing on the unconscious, archetypes, symbolism, and dream interpretation, were all synthesized into this form of therapy.

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Tenets of Jungian Psychotherapy

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Carl Jung believed in a holistic and flexible approach to healing. He developed a core group of tenets that act as the foundation for analytical psychotherapy.

Archetypes

Jungian archetypes are central to Jungian psychotherapy. These archetypes are:

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• The Persona: The presenting version of yourself. The persona is not your authentic self. Rather, it’s the version of yourself you want others to see.
• The Shadow: This is the part of your personality that holds repressed aspects of yourself that are generally (but not always) met with shame. This could be wrath, weakness, or base instincts that if acted upon would cause societal backlash.
• The Anima or Animus: The anima and the animus are feminine or masculine aspects of a man or woman’s personality.
• The Self: This represents your personality and psyche as a whole.

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These classifications are used to understand unconscious parts of our personality that may be misunderstood. According to Jungian psychotherapy, archetypes need to be acknowledged, confronted, and lived with for you to be your true and whole self.

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Complexes

Complexes are a bit complex. They are partially repressed, but highly influential clusters of thoughts that conflict with the conscious. 

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One common complex you probably have in your lexicon is the savior complex. It causes people to think they need to be the hero to anyone who they believe needs saving. This can lead to problems like neglecting personal needs or overstepping boundaries.

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Jungian psychotherapy uses complexes as a way to frame conversations and focus energy on a central theme the unconscious is trying to communicate.

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Symbols

When you see a skull and crossbones on a black background you think of pirates. That’s because over time that image has become synonymous with its meaning.

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Symbols are images that carry meaning, and they’re used in Jungian psychotherapy during dream analysis, active imagination, and expressive art to find meaning we are unconscious of.

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Ways of Exploring the Unconscious

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The goal of Jungian psychotherapy is to bring unconscious parts of someone’s personality to the surface and align these parts with who the person thinks they are.

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Exploring the unconscious reaches of your mind is not an easy task. Carl Jung used several creative outlets to help guide people into those parts of our personality.

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Art

Art is a conduit you can use to express how you feel in ways beyond words. Jungian psychotherapy uses art as a way to draw out unconscious thoughts. A couple of ways this method is used during therapy sessions include:

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• Painting
• Dance
• Composition
• Writing
• Sculpture
• And many more

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This is not a unique aspect of analytical psychotherapy. It’s used in experiential therapy, and helps supplement other counseling methods.

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On its own, art can be a form of catharsis that guides you toward a conclusion, self-discovery, or helps to process trauma. It’s been found useful for survivors of war to express their experiences with trauma through mask-making. 

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Dream Analysis

The unconscious operates during dreams. We drift off and let the unconscious part of our minds out of hiding. 

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Jungian psychotherapists encourage their clients to engage with your dreams. This might be keeping a dream journal or even trying to talk with people in dreams. You’re meant to look for patterns and recurring symbolism that you can talk about during therapy sessions. 

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Jungian therapists recognize that not every dream has equal importance. Some are just nonsense, but some may be the gateway into learning about unexplored parts of yourself.

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Active Imagination

Another practice used in Jungian psychotherapy is activating and engaging with your imagination. It’s believed that this practice helps patients notice the images that the mind produces and therefore gives a glimpse into the unconscious.

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This could be thought of as a waking dream, except you are in control. You might be asked to paint a scenario and play it out. You could describe yourself as a cowboy on a horse in the middle of the desert. What do you see? The thought is that if you keep playing the scene, you may find a lesson in the story.

Word Association

Word association is more common than some other of Jung’s practices, and it’s used in other modalities like psychodynamic therapy. It works by your therapist saying a word, then you say the first thing that comes to mind. This requires an open and honest mind, and you can’t change your answers.

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That very first thought is a piece of your unconscious coming to the front of your mind. You and your therapist discuss what that thought is and why.

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Before you even have time to think, your unconscious thoughts affect your behaviors. The practice of word association helps find the unconscious thoughts that are influencing your behavior.

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What to Expect During a Jungian Therapy Session

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Everyone will experience Jungian psychotherapy a little bit differently. It changes based on who you are and who your therapist is. This is because this form of therapy doesn’t have much structure. Many of the tools used are creativity-based and require a high level of trust between you and your therapist.

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Building Trust

The first step of Jungian psychotherapy is building a relationship with your therapist. Early sessions will involve our therapist asking you questions to get to know you better. These questions will also help solidify the relationship and make you more comfortable when you begin to be vulnerable.

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Building trust with your therapist is an important step. You will likely discuss heartfelt, difficult, and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. You deserve to feel safe and seen during this process. 

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Time Frame of Jungian Treatment

Jungian psychotherapy is a long-term treatment. It could last months to years. How long you engage in this type of therapy is up to you and your therapist 

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It’s important to remember that Jungian Psychology is not goal-centric. It’s about self-discovery and becoming your true self. That takes a long time.

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Frequency of Jungian Therapy Sessions

This is also a decision you’ll make with your therapist. It’s common for these sessions to create intense emotional responses. That’s why it’s important to connect regularly. Once a week is standard practice for most, but many people start out going multiple times a week and reducing frequency as time goes on.

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Benefits of Jungian Psychotherapy

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This form of therapy was created with the presupposition that mental health issues occur when people cannot live as their true selves. 

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It’s important to remember that Jungian Psychology is not goal-centric. It’s about self-discovery and becoming your true self.

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People have historically criticized Jungian Therapy as hokey, fake, or mystic. However, studies show that Jungian therapy is just as efficient as other forms of talk therapy. It’s known to help patients manage symptoms of:

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• Anxiety
• Depression
• Self-esteem

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Jungian Therapy helps patients better understand themselves and makes them mindful of the unconscious portions of their personality that affect their thoughts and behaviors.

Find Your True Self at Sequoia Behavioral Health

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At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we take a holistic approach to healing including recreational therapy. cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and even sound baths. We take time to understand your needs and build an individualized program that meets them.

Start your journey toward a better sense of self by contacting Sequoia Behavioral Health. Discover and live out the life your true self has always wanted to live.