 |
A Brief Introduction to Jungian Therapy
Author: Gary Toub, Ph.d. | Posted: 22-02-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 5 | 
 Search for Meaning
Many Americans are searching for deeper meaning in their lives. Just recently, a TV news survey asked viewers what one thing would most improve the quality of their life. The most frequent answer was “greater meaning in life.”
People from all walks of life are looking for more out of existence than simply adapting to society and living functionally. Many want the inner fulfillment of living an authentic, creative life connected to spirit. Jungian therapy is a means for achieving this.
Individuation and Psychological Symptoms
Central to Jungian therapy is the concept of individuation, referring to the psychological evolution of an individual over time. Jung used the term to describe a lifelong expansion of consciousness, as well as the development of an increasingly differentiated personality. Individuation involves the growth of a whole and unique human being and a concomitant deepening and widening of awareness. Jung felt that this was accomplished through the integration of unconscious contents and the reconciliation of opposites within the psyche.
While individuation is a process that occurs naturally over the course of life, it can be enormously facilitated through Jungian therapy. Therapeutically assisted individuation is not simply a luxury for individuals wishing to grow, however. From a Jungian perspective, psychological maladies result from inhibited individuation. To the extent that we are unconscious and undeveloped, we are limited in our ability to respond productively, creatively, and adaptively to life. In fact, it was Jung’s feeling that the greater the split between the conscious and unconscious mind, the greater the likelihood of neurotic, or in some cases, psychotic disorders. For Jung, psychological symptoms frequently signal the fact that our psyche is fragmented, unbalanced, and ill-adapted to reality. Jungian therapy helps us wake up to the unconscious dynamics creating our suffering.
The Self as Regulating Center
A unique aspect of Jungian therapy is the understanding that guidance for what we need to integrate to function fully comes from within ourselves. Jungian psychology proposes that there is a source of symbolic wisdom within each person’s psyche--a regulating center that Jung calls the Self--that contains knowledge beyond what we know consciously.
Jung felt that the Self is constantly sending us messages, but due to their symbolic nature, we fail to appreciate their meaning. Jung and his followers developed methods of dream interpretation, creative expression, and creative imagination to help understand and integrate unconscious material. In Jungian therapy, symptom relief often accompanies the integration of these contents.
Four Steps
I have found that there are usually four steps in this process. First, it requires opening up the mind and heart to the signals from the unconscious--discoverable through intuition, feelings, inner vision, and dreams, as well as art, body signals, and synchronistic experiences. Then, it involves allowing the images to express themselves more fully. Techniques such as dream interpretation and various forms of active imagination (e.g., imaginal dialogue) can be especially useful for this. The third step is identifying and confronting the inner and outer obstacles and adversaries to living of one's true self. Finally, it necessitates developing the courage, strength, and integrity to live one's truth in the world.
An Example
Say, for example, we are feeling “burnt out” and somewhat depressed. We try several different methods of self-help, but none seems to really help. Then, after beginning Jungian therapy, we have a dream that we are sailing on a ship to Hawaii, a ship on which an evil slave master is being overthrown.
Exploring the symbols in the dream, we might discover that Hawaii represents a new and refreshing way of life, one more connected with nature and instincts. We might also recognize that we need to emancipate ourselves from the negative taskmaster in our psyche, to whom we are enslaved. With the help of our therapist, we ponder and explore these issues and their significance in our life. This and other dreams to follow may then begin to transform us—and our depression—into a more instinctual way of living, closer to our own nature and the wisdom of the Self.
Rate this Article:
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/a-brief-introduction-to-jungian-therapy-339811.html
About the Author:GARY TOUB, Ph.D., is a psychologist and Jungian analyst in private practice in Denver. He also serves as Training Director/Senior Training Analyst at the C. G. Jung Institute of Colorado. In practice since 1971, he received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona. He holds post-doctoral diplomas from the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts and the Research Society for Process-Oriented Psychology.
For more information about Gary Toub, Ph.D., Jungian Analyst, see Dr. Toub’s website at http://home.comcast.net/~gtoub/ or write him at gtoub@comcast.net.
For more information on this therapist and other articles, visit www.therapylinx.com!
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
My Road to Jung: How I Ended Up 10,000 Feet Under the Ground
By: Gary Toub, Ph.d. | 22/02/2008 | Self Improvement
It turned out that I would have many confirming dreams about training, applying for training, and Jung himself. Early on, however, my road to Jung was paved not by initiatory dreams or visions (at least, I do not recall any), but by a sequence of pivotal events in my life.
Star Wars And Psychology: Embracing The Dark Side
By: Kyle Varner | 02/03/2006 | Self Help
A few evenings ago, some friends and I decided to watch the latest Star Wars film, Return of the Sith. This film got me thinking about a concept that is key to much of the hypnotherapy that I do, and is an excellent example of how not to lead one's life.
Achieving True Happyness In Nine Easy Steps
By: Andre Bell | 03/01/2007 | Self Help
Few movies have had the strength to move me to action. The Pursuit of HappYness is definitely the exception.
Will Smith plays the role of Chris Gardner, a down and out dad who's faced with poverty, homelessness, singleness, and a job that paid ZERO - you heard that correctly ZERO dollars...
Why Are Twenty Million People Depressed In The United States?
By: Linda Dipman | 12/12/2006 | Religion
Depression plagues twenty million people in the United States. What is the root cause of depression? How can people find relief from this debilitating disease.
3-part Happiness Formula to Brighten your Life
By: Toronto Arkland | 23/10/2007 | Self Help
Are you in pursuit of happiness? Are there people in your life that depress you? Do you wish that someday we’ll find an end to wars, school shootings, and like atrocities that stem from someone’s unhappiness? If you’re like me, deep down you not only want to know how to be happy but you also want others to be happy so they’ll stop dishing out the opposite at you! The AIR Equation gives you a targeted 3-part formula for happiness.
Happiness Source Ranked #1? Best Friends
By: Toronto Arkland | 02/11/2007 | Self Help
Analysis of the AIR Equation Happiness Survey data for the month of October 2007 is complete. Of the various figures in our lives, best friends were the highest rated. Although on the surface our spouses and love interests rate high, they rank last after adjusting for the AIR Equation factors. Read how the AIR Equation gives you a targeted 3-part formula for happiness.
Do You Have the 'personality' for the Career You Want?
By: Christopher R. Edgar | 08/03/2008 | Career Management
Personality tests are becoming increasingly popular among people entering the workforce and those seeking career transitions. However, choosing a career based on personality test results can keep us within, rather than helping us expand, our comfort zones, and ultimately leave us unfulfilled.
True Self-help Without a Guru
By: Kevin Del Principe | 07/01/2007 | Self Help
Do you want to be more content? Help yourself minus the guru. If we want to change the world we don’t need to change ourselves, we must be content and in that contentedness make right decisions that will benefit not only ourselves but all of us. Nothing bad can come from actions that are good. If we are following our bliss, then we are doing what’s right and no one can be hurt by our actions. There is no prescription or diagnosis for bliss, there is only the journey.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many clonazepam 2mg can i take a day?
By: Tania | 19-05-2008
How many clonazepam 2mg can i take a day?
Why does my husband no longer desires sex with me?
By: Rayven | 19-05-2008
Im 26, my husband is 28. My husband and I married this year at the courthouse March 21st 2008 before we found out I was pregnant! (Due date: Nov 18th) I later found out that when he married me he wasnt exactly in love with me. He said he felt like it was the right thing to do more so since we were having a baby. Is been very hard for me to live with that, but I do! hoping thing will change! The problem is this... I am extremely sexually frustrated! He never wants to have sex anymore. All started about 3 mos ago. He says its because before we got married our arguments were so bad- he felt I use to degrade, and belittle him through my words. He says I took away all of his manhood and stripped him of everything from the abusive way I use to talk to him during our arguments and he still thinks about it. He said that its made him feel less of a man and he's trying to get over that. I will agree I use to say some pretty harsh thing in our heated arguments but never did I think it would make him sexually empty for me. Ive asked him to have sex with me, and we've argued about it. He says he wont do it on my time-it has to be unplanned for him to want to, and not on my command. what should I do? Its been over three months and he still doesn't desire sex with me! I know for a fact he's not cheating, not gay,and he does love me!
Correct way to stop taking amitriptyline
By: Jean and Bane | 19-05-2008
correct way to stop taking amitriptyline
Four years ago but what about the location of fusion?
By: cathm486 | 19-05-2008
You stated that people who had spinal fusion within the last year should not use back2life. I had spinal fusion four years ago on L5-S1. Though it was four years ago would the location of the fusion prevent me from using the product?
Please help me i need answers.....i am 20 years old and ever since i was an infent ...
By: toni t | 19-05-2008
i am 20 years old and ever since i was an infent i will wake up in swet and hestericle criening. but it wasnt really crying it was almost like i had to laph but i couldnt get it out so my ma would just hold me till it wen a away. and till this day i still get them but ill wake my self up .and then some times ill have "the atacks" wen im up its like im laphing but its a crying laph n my hole body shivers but im not cold im actualy sweting. n know i think my son mite have the same thing. the docters when i was yunger could never tell me wat it was . thank you
I think i have a case of panic attacks..but not sure....need help
By: Macdaddy | 18-05-2008
I think i have a case of panic attacks..i say this b/c alot of the symptoms on this website are what i feel sometime...but i am not a doctor or a psychologist or psychiatrist...and i don't want to be a hypochondriac and start to feel the symptoms after i read about it...i could use some help..i'm thinking it's b/c i only get an average of 7 hours of sleep a night..i'm 16 and it says i need 9-10 hours..but i'm not sure..i just needed or wanted to talk to somebody
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Self Improvement Articles
How You Can Improve Yourself by Building Your Self Esteem
By: Carmen Bodden | 20/05/2008
This article provides some tips that will help you improve yourself by building your self-esteem. The tips will help you to be aware of the things and people that may be lowering your self-esteem. You will learn to maintain your self-esteem when things may not be going the way you expect.
7 Lessons for Self-Improvement
By: Carmen Bodden | 20/05/2008
This article provides you with some lessons that you can use to improve yourself and allow you to have a life where you can achieve what you desire without letting the cares and stresses of the world get you down.
Dealing With Your Own Anger
By: Andy Smith | 20/05/2008
Anger is not a very enjoyable emotion and it can cause many problems.
Where is Your Life Going?
By: Michael A. Verdicchio | 20/05/2008
You can either accept your life the way it is now, or, you can get on the path to where you really desire your life to go. I am going to challenge you to follow a simple exercise for three weeks. If you do, you will initiate a major change of focus in your mind that will help you greatly in achieving your dreams and desires.
Have You Learned How-to Yet?
By: John Dean Williamsen | 19/05/2008
If it's as simple as 7 steps to the life of your dreams or 3 sure-fire ways to get rich quick, WHY haven't you done it yet? Or if you have, WHY aren't you happy? Discover the WHY of it.
Personal Health Guidelines: is Your Frame Reference Accurate?
By: Henk Mutsaers | 19/05/2008
How does your memory function? What is your intuition telling you? Can feelings misguide you? Is there a connection between these factors and your health?
Searching for the London Flowers
By: Clint Jhonson | 19/05/2008
Flowers represent happiness and joy. They are the ideal gifts for almost every person because they stand for fertility and life force. Flowers are genuine tokens of gratitude and sympathy. The online flower suppliers are able to provide you with flowers uk; they will also provide you with attractive offers. For instance, you can take full advantage of various discounts. Free shipping and delivery schemes can also be chosen.
Order Some Cheap Flowers Online
By: Clint Jhonson | 19/05/2008
Lifesare becoming more and more hectic; actually, you can get lost in sending gifts and flowers. But if you have to deal with an emergency situation, you can count on the flower delivery. The flowers by post are likely to impress every recipient and your satisfaction will be guaranteed.
More from Gary Toub, Ph.d.
My Road to Jung: How I Ended Up 10,000 Feet Under the Ground
By: Gary Toub, Ph.d. | 22/02/2008 | Self Improvement
It turned out that I would have many confirming dreams about training, applying for training, and Jung himself. Early on, however, my road to Jung was paved not by initiatory dreams or visions (at least, I do not recall any), but by a sequence of pivotal events in my life.
|
|
Self Improvement 
