What is Jungian psychotherapy- and is it right for me?
What is it that makes Jungian psychotherapy so different from other types of therapy? In this article, we'll talk about the biggest differences, what makes it so unique and timely, and whether or not it's right for you.
While you have probably heard of Carl Jung, you may not be clear on what it is that makes Jungian psychotherapy different from other approaches.
In my own grad school program, Jung was barely taught. Instead, more time was spent on approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which, because of the research behind them, are more likely to be reimbursed by insurance companies.
While I have a lot of respect for CBT and other cognitive approaches, I believe that Jungian psychotherapy can provide an approach that matches what so many people are looking for during the difficult times we live in: a holistic approach to wellness that centers our search for meaning and purpose, not just the reduction of symptoms.
Let’s take a look at what makes Jung’s methodology so unique.
A different understanding of “symptoms”
Jung believed that symptoms, while they can cause incredible suffering, are not just something to be eliminated, but meaningful communications from our psyche. These symptoms are always pointing to an imbalance in our system; some part of our personality or life has become too one-sided, and needs to be balanced. Once the imbalance is addressed, the symptoms tend to go away on their own.
Through this lens, a diagnosis is less important than understanding where the system has gone out of balance. In this way, the Jungian approach is less pathologizing: it treats each individual not as a problem to be solved, but as a life to be lived more fully.
The unconscious psyche: more than meets the eye
Jungian psychology also relies on the idea that there is more to our mind than we are consciously aware of. He referred to this part of the mind as “the unconscious psyche:”
"So defined, the unconscious depicts an extremely fluid state of affairs: everything of which I know, but of which I am not at the moment thinking; everything of which I was once conscious but have now forgotten; everything perceived by my senses, but not noted by my conscious mind; everything which, involuntarily and without paying attention to it, I feel, think, remember, want, and do; all the future things that are taking shape in me and will sometime come to consciousness..."— C.G. Jung, On the Nature of the Psyche
This is critical because it helps us to understand why cognitive approaches like CBT might sometimes fall short. Each of us may have unconscious reasons for not wanting to change, for example. Until these are brought into conscious awareness, we will fail to make the change we are aiming for.
A very simple example of this might be someone who says they want to start exercising, but just can’t seem to get started, no matter how hard they try. When we look more deeply at the situation, we find that the person is afraid of injuring themselves the way they did when they were young. Once they understand what’s underneath their reluctance, they can work with it differently.
The “shadow”
Jung is also somewhat famous for coining the term “shadow.” Our shadow is part of our unconscious psyche, and includes all of the parts of ourselves that we were never able to integrate consciously. For example, if, as a child, you were always told that you should never be angry, and you grew up to be someone who never raises their voice, it is likely that your anger is a big part of your shadow.
This is true not only of what we think of as our “negative” qualities (like anger), but also our positive qualities—what’s sometimes called “the golden shadow.” If you grew up in a household in which you had to learn to be aggressive to survive, then your opposite qualities—like nonviolence, or gentleness—would be part of your shadow.
An important part of Jungian psychotherapy involves bringing our shadow material into awareness, so that we can become more balanced, and whole.
Individuation, the “Self,” & Spirituality
According to Jung, the ultimate goal for each person is what he called “individuation.”
"Individuation means becoming an 'in-dividual,' and, in so far as 'individuality' embraces our innermost, last, and incomparable uniqueness, it also implies becoming one's own self. We could therefore translate individuation as 'coming to selfhood' or 'self-realization.'"— C.G. Jung, Two Essays on Analytical Psychology
This is one of the most unique parts of Jungian psychology. Rather than just addressing symptoms, we are helping each individual find their own unique path; the life they are meant to live.
Jung believed that each of us has a larger “Self”—encompassing both the unconscious and the conscious psyche. This Self is an organizing principle of the psyche: that is, it is always working actively to bring harmony and balance to our lives, and to make us more whole. The goal of the Self is to move us toward individuation.
The Self is an inherently spiritual concept. Each of us, according to Jung, will have our own personal understanding of this spirituality—it might be a religion that we practice, or simply an understanding of something greater than ourselves. When we get in touch with that spirituality, which Jung called “the numinous,” there is an unmistakable recognition that helps us to move forward in our lives.
“The main interest of my work is not concerned with the treatment of neuroses, but rather with the approach to the numinous. But the fact is that the approach to the numinous is the real therapy, and in as much as you attain to numinous experiences, you are released from the curse of pathology. Even the very disease takes on a numinous character.” — C.G. Jung, letter to P.W. Martin, August 20, 1945
Dreams
"In each of us there is another whom we do not know. He speaks to us in dreams and tells us how differently he sees us from the way we see ourselves."— C.G. Jung, The Development of Personality
A discussion of Jungian psychotherapy wouldn’t be complete without mentioning dreams. Jung believed that dreams are messages from our unconscious psyche that show us a more complete picture than our conscious, waking mind can do. Through dreamwork (sometimes called dream analysis or dream interpretation), we can often find wisdom that helps us to get un-stuck in ways that just talk therapy alone can’t do.
Because dreams speak in symbols and metaphors, their images are often confusing. Yet when we get an “answer” from the dream, it’s undeniable—we feel it in our bodies, like the moment we remember that word that’s been on the tip of our tongue for days. There’s an instant, “aha!” moment as we come home to a truth that our conscious mind hasn’t been able to see clearly.
For individuals who have difficulty remembering their dreams, there are other creative methods to dialogue with the unconscious, called “Active Imagination.” This can include writing, drawing, or movement, and can often bring up surprisingly helpful material.
Who is this work for?
A Jungian approach is not for everybody. For individuals who are in acute crisis, more structured, present-focused stabilization will be beneficial first.
Because this work is slower and more exploratory, it’s also not a good fit for folks who just want to “make their problems go away as quickly as possible,” or for individuals who prefer a more structured, skills-based approach.
This work is also not a good fit for those who want a therapist to “tell them what to do” or “how to change,” as it prioritizes the client’s autonomy, agency and expertise.
However, for individuals who are drawn to dreams, symbols and their inner world; for those who have done “the work” of talk therapy, self-help, etc., but still feel stuck; or for those who want to understand the underlying why of it all—Jungian psychotherapy is a natural fit.
It’s also ideal for those who are struggling with a life transition—the end of a relationship or a career, becoming a parent—anything that has us asking, “who am I now?,” or for folks who are undergoing a crisis of faith, or coping with a sense of meaninglessness in their lives—even though it seems like everything should be fine.
For individuals who are dealing with the effects of complex trauma, a Jungian approach can be supportive of understanding the underlying relational patterns that have shaped their lives, and how we are being moved toward something new.
A final note about the body
“The body is merely the visibility of the soul, the psyche; and the soul is the psychological experience of the body. So it is really one and the same thing.” –CG Jung, Nietzsche's Zarathustra: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1934–1939
While Jung’s work was inherently somatic—that is, he understood that the body and the mind were not separate—not all Jungian therapy is somatic. However, in my own practice as a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, I integrate a somatic approach directly, so that clients can explore their unconscious psyche as it communicates directly through the body, moment to moment.
Curious whether this approach is right for you?
If any of this resonated — if you've felt that nagging sense that something deeper is asking for your attention, or you're tired of managing symptoms without ever getting to what's underneath them — I'd love to talk with you about it.
My approach integrates Jungian depth psychology with somatic, body-based work, so we're not just talking about your unconscious — we're paying attention to how it shows up, moment to moment, in your body as we work together. Sessions are available virtually throughout Florida or in person in Stuart, FL. You can read more about me here.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation call for anyone curious whether this kind of work might be a fit. Click the button below to get in touch!
Hi, I'm Laura Beth Wenger, a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and somatic coach helping folks navigate the effects of chronic stress and C-PTSD through Somatic Jungian Psychotherapy, NARM, somatic coaching, and embodied dreamwork. I see clients online and in person in Stuart, Florida.
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