Heide M Kolb

Jungian Work

Freud and Jung are generally credited with being the founders of depth psychology and psychoanalysis. C.G. Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and researcher in the field of consciousness. The School of Analytical Psychology is based on and developed from Jung's work and writings.

Jungian Work is not different from authentic Jungian psychotherapy or Jungian psychoanalysis. I prefer the term Jungian Work for a number of reasons. On the one hand  psychotherapy has often been demoted to a state controlled management of symptoms in today’s practice and on the other hand psychoanalysis has become a vanishing art, often met with hostility in contemporary culture. For many it has lost its meaning as a potentially transformative and healing approach to psychological problems.

"I Tried to Square the Circle Eight Times."
Copyright 2007 - Elena Ray

The Jungian approach is unique. It is not only a method to treat psychological problems, but also a unique way of perceiving and engaging everyday life. It is geared towards activating one’s inner resources in order to find meaning and the capacity to fully claim one’s life.

The richness of Jungian work is based on Jung's understanding of the archetypal dimension of the psyche. Jung saw the potential for genuine healing and transformation embedded within the soul. (In Jungian thought psyche is used synonymously with soul). The way to access this potential is through the imagination. Dreams, the images of memories, all psychic experiences will be imaginatively engaged in Jungian work and therapy.

The idea of Jungian Work also implies that authentic Jungian therapy is work, for both sides involved. It requires commitment to oneself and to the process of the treatment journey. But the rewards can be truly life changing!

This list is by no means complete, but these are some of the most common psychological problems that can be portals into Jungian work:

    Feelings of Depression or Anxiety
    Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms
    Feeling stuck, being unable to make a decision
    Addictions to various behaviors or substances
    Relationship problems
    Vocational problems
    Difficult life transitions (i.e. a divorce, a child leaving home, menopause, etc)
    Loss and bereavement
    Aging
    Past traumatic experiences
    Immigration issues, such as difficulties adjusting to a new country and culture
    Feelings of meaninglessness and loss of joy
    Creative struggles (writer's block, actors who struggle with embodying fully fleshed out characters, etc)