Jungian Analysis and Psychotherapy

At the heart of C.G. Jung’s psychology is the process of individuation. Individuation means the realisation of the individual’s full potential or becoming whole. This process is guided by the Self – a unifying principle within the psyche, which is “not only the centre but also the whole circumference which embraces both conscious and unconscious” (CW 12, para. 444). Connecting with the Self necessitates becoming aware of the deeper sense of who we are and of our connection to all of life.

At the same time, the process of individuation, accessing and integrating the energies involved, requires that our body is able to contain, tolerate and integrate these energies without falling apart, shutting down or generating physical symptoms. This is where somatic therapies, such as Somatic Experiencing (SE) prove invaluable.

Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing is a body awareness approach to healing symptoms of trauma, developed by Dr Peter Levine through over forty years of research, observation and clinical work.

It is based on the observation that animals in the wild, although frequently subjected to life-threatening experiences, do not become traumatised. Instead, they seem to be able to use innate mechanisms for discharging the intense energies involved in survival responses, such as fight, flight or freeze. Why do humans, who have the same inherent mechanisms, seem to struggle with such events and develop various long-term symptoms? Part of the reason seems to lie in our tendency to stop and suppress the discharge of these survival energies through the interference of our higher brain, often because we feel scared of the intensity of these energies and because our body reactions (such as shaking) seem strange and unfamiliar to us.

In this way, the highly charged survival energies remain frozen in the body. In attempting to manage them, the body creates symptoms. Such symptoms may range from conic hyper-alertness, anxiety and panic attacks, flashbacks and nightmares, to feeling numb or developing chronic pain. They can also manifest as difficulties in relationships, feeling stuck in life, experiencing a life of meaningless or feeling unable to relax and compelled to keep busy. This list is far from exhaustive. 

Through attention to feelings and sensations in the body, the practitioner can help the client regain access to the frozen-in-time traumatic patterns as well as to the body resources, which often seem inaccessible from the traumatic state. The person is then guided to gently release these highly charged energies. This often leads to the disappearance of symptoms, renewed feelings of vitality, connectedness with oneself and others, and a sense of wholeness.

Somatic Experiencing has been successfully used with combat veterans, survivors of natural disasters, sexual and physical abuse, road accidents and many other traumas. Sometimes the initial trigger may be unclear or symptoms may stem from experiences which may not appear traumatic, but which nevertheless exceeded the individual’s capacity to manage them at the time. They can also stem from repeated adverse developmental experiences, forming the basis of what is also called attachment or developmental trauma.  Thus, people may suffer from chronic anxiety, avoid certain social situations or experience panic attacks without knowing why they feel this way.

Through gentle attention to the body experiences, Somatic Experiencing can help resolve these symptoms and renegotiate one’s relationships with one’s feelings, leading to an increased ability to tolerate intense feelings and life experiences without producing symptoms.

Supervision

I offer group and individual supervision.

Some regular questions I am asked

What is the difference between counselling, psychotherapy and analysis?

The differences between these are related to the length, depth and focus of the work that is usually offered. Thus, psychotherapists usually offer a wider spectrum of treatment ranging from short-term work focused on issues most relevant to the client at present (e.g a particular work-related or relationship issue) to long-term treatment aiming at deeper personality changes, whereas counsellors, particularly those working in the voluntary sector, tend to offer shorter-term involvement, often with a specific focus.

However, this is not always as clearcut and what is probably more important is the particular approach your chosen counsellor or psychotherapist works within, such as psychodynamic, client-centred, cognitive-behavioural or integrative as well as the client categories they work with, i.e. children, adults, couples and families, etc.

The analysis differs from therapy mainly by the frequency of sessions. It is the most intensive approach of the three and for this reason can offer a better holding, more space and a greater sense of safety, which allows the analytic couple to go deeper and address the early roots of the difficulties and relational patterns. Some people in analysis prefer to work on the couch rather than the chair.

“I feel nervous and am not sure how deep I want to go or how much work I am ready to do...”

An essential aim in my work is to help create a safe and confidential environment. It is important for me that we work together and have common aims and understanding. For this reason, in the initial stages of our work, we will focus on building a relationship in which you feel safe enough to explore even the most difficult issues, while also feeling that you can move at your own pace. I will usually offer you options for exploring and addressing your problems, and will also explain why I suggest one way or another. You will not be pushed to do anything you don’t feel ready to do.

”Why do people develop symptoms?”

When the body is overwhelmed as a result of trauma or even seemingly non-traumatic life experiences, which nevertheless feel “too much” for the person, our normal ways of coping may prove insufficient and then a number of physical and emotional symptoms may emerge as the organism attempts to cope with the stress. This is also likely to happen if the stress is chronic and the person lives with the underlying tension.

Some common symptoms related to stress and trauma are listed below:

• Chronic muscle tension or stiffness

• Headaches or migraines

• Chronic pain and pain syndromes (e.g. fibromyalgia)

• Chronic fatigue

• Digestive problems (e.g. IBS)

• Blood pressure problems

• Skin disorders

• Medically unexplained symptoms

• Broken sleep or insomnia

• Nightmares

• High emotional reactivity, mood swings and tearfulness

• Intrusive memories or flashbacks

• Anxiety, phobias or panic attacks

• Palpitations

• Breathing difficulties

• Hypervigilance

• Avoidance of people or places

• Emotional numbness

• Addictive behaviours (e.g. overeating)

 This list is far from exhaustive. People may also be suffering from any number of physical, emotional or relational difficulties, or grappling with issues more general in nature (e.g. feeling stuck in their life, not able to access or express their creative potential, experiencing life as meaningless or feeling that it is falling apart). In all these cases addressing the problems from a holistic therapeutic perspective, involving both the body and the psyche might be beneficial.