We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them. – C.G. Jung
A Jungian Approach to Psychotherapy
People generally begin psychotherapy in order to reduce suffering in life and because at some level, we imagine that life could be better. We all suffer in different ways and suffering is universal, but it is precisely that suffering that leads us into a process of discovering how our deepest selves want to be expressed in the world and to find the inner resources to live that out. Most models of psychotherapy seek to reduce suffering by providing symptom relief and by helping people adapt to the demands of society. These are important aims of the work. Yet it is more important to understand what underlies the difficulties that we face in the same way that a good doctor will not just stop the bleeding and ease the pain, but treat that which is causing those symptoms in the first place. A Jungian approach seeks to reduce suffering and promote healing by endeavoring to understand the meaning of our symptoms and how, through those symptoms and difficulties, we can be led to experience more satisfaction, creativity and joy in our lives.
A Jungian approach asks not only “how can I meet life’s demands?” but “how can I live a life that fully expresses who I am?” It asks, “Who am I at the deepest level?” and “What meaning does my life have?” As we work towards exploring these questions – intellectually, emotionally, imaginatively and experientially – we tend to find that the problems that we face in life, frequently seemingly insurmountable, end up no longer being relevant as our attitudes, understanding and perspectives change. We find that we live life with a renewed sense of purpose, vigor, resiliency and vision.