Psychotherapy

The Evidence For Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

The therapeutic approach of Depth Psychology is psychodynamic in its nature. That is, it takes into account the interaction of both conscious and unconscious factors in human experience. In many circles, psychodynamic approaches are seen as relics of the past. They have been replaced by quicker, cheaper, and presumably more effective “evidence based treatments,” such […]

Approaching The Numinous

One aspect that differentiates Jungian Depth Psychology from other forms of therapy, is the importance that is placed on religious or numinous experiences.


For Jung, the experience of the numinous is the essential element of psychotherapy. In one of his letters he wrote: 

"You are quite right, the main interest of my work is not concerned with the treatment of neurosis but rather with the approach to the numinous. But the fact is that the approach to the numinous is the real therapy and inasmuch as you attain to the numinous experiences you are released from the curse of pathology. Even the very disease takes on a numinous character." 

Here is a video of Jungian Analyst Lionel Corbett, discussing the importance of such numinous experiences:

What is Depth Psychology?

I am planning a series of posts about Depth Psychology, exploring what it is, the people who practice it and write about it, and how a depth-oriented psychotherapy understands and seeks to effect healing. 

I'm kicking off this series with this video in which Stephen Aizenstat, the founding president of Pacifica Graduate Institute, offers his attempt at a definition of Depth Psychology:

 

Stories & Psychotherapy

Stories and the Soul

“From my perspective as a depth psychologist, I see that those who have a connection with story are in better shape  and have a better prognosis than those to whom story must be introduced. …to have ‘story-awareness’ is per se psychologically therapeutic. It is good for soul.” ~ James HillmanOne of the fundamental ideas of Jungian Psychology […]

James Hillman

R.I.P. James Hillman

Here is the New York Times obituary of James Hillman, who passed away yesterday. Hillman was one of the founders of Archetypal Psychology, an elaboration of Jungian Psychology. He was an enormously creative person, a champion of the soul, and a prophet of the imagination. His passing represents a tectonic shift in the Jungian world and […]