What is Analytical Therapy?
Analytical Therapy, also known as Jungian psychotherapy, is a therapeutic method developed by Carl Gustav Jung who also defined psychotherapy as “a dialectical process between two psychic systems (…).”
The aim of this dialectical interaction is to facilitate self-knowledge through more awareness about our own inner dynamics. It shows us who we truly are or intend to be, bringing integration with ourselves and a better relationship with the world around us.
Analytical Therapy focuses on the Individuation process which is the expression of the Self. During this process, we integrate all past psychodynamic experiences, both positive and negative, in such a way as to express our uniqueness as whole human beings. This process gives meaning to our life and enables us to develop our potential, expressing it through a productive and healthy physical and emotional life.
How does Analytical Therapy work?
According to Jung, all Analytical Therapy work is an understanding of the psychodynamic process between the archetypal symbols in the collective unconscious, our personal unconscious, and our ego to facilitate and support us in our Individuation process.
This method considers the unconscious at two different levels – the personal and the collective. The dynamics related to the personal unconscious are accessed through dreams and free associations using verbal speech. However, other tools are also available, such as active imagination and different artistic expression. At the same time, the archetypes and their dynamics inside the collective unconscious represent the common experiences of humanity to a greater or lesser extent. It is related to myths, fairy tales, several deities, and religious historical evolution. The collective unconscious is part of each of us; it represents all experiences accumulated by humankind.
Why do Analytical Therapy?
To be in an analytical therapy process is to be seeking who we truly are without illusions or masks. Usually, we seek therapy because we need help to deal with unbalanced emotions and psychological distress.
Working with a professional therapist in the analytical therapy process, we achieve more awareness about our own unconscious psychodynamics in order to understand the need to face and accept these dynamics. It enables us to release issues and integrate all aspects of who we are, growing towards self-knowledge and becoming fully aware of our inner potential to fulfill the individuation process and realize the Self.