Why Jung?

Jungian psychology, especially in the English-speaking world, is far from being a first choice for most psychologists or clients. We are all much more likely to run into CBT-trained therapists, counsellors and coaches, or those who draw on the humanistic tradition. If you are quite niche, you will find a psychoanalyst. So, what does Jungian psychology have that makes it an interesting alternative?

Finding balance

Neumann, Jung and Eliade

Famously, Jung once said that he would rather be whole than good. What he was referring to was his idea of complementary aspects of one’s mind that cannot be isolated and dealt with separately from everything else. If you reject or neglect some part of the psyche, it will create an imbalance that will sooner or later undermine your good work with new issues that will require your attention. The idea of personal growth or self-improvement doesn’t lead through overemphasising the positives or turning your weaknesses into strengths, but in a much more intricate manner, accommodating them both and exploring if something new can come out of it.

Social awareness

I know many Jungians would disagree with me, but this is the hill I’m willing to die on [smile]. Jung comes from the “collective era” of our society, and for him, it was important to emphasise the value of functioning well amongst people, which is a tricky path between overidentification with societal roles and withdrawal from them. In the past 60 years, we have been isolating individuals and fragmenting society to the point that people in coaching or therapy are encouraged to set themselves apart from their environment and work on their issues somehow independently. As a social psychologist, I’m struggling with this view, and Jung offers an interesting alternative, which is much more holistic in its approach.

Considering the unconscious

Most modalities, and especially in coaching, are primarily focused on behavioural change. That is often achieved by reasoning, understanding emotions, making plans or goals, or dealing with perceptions, beliefs and memories. While all those aspects are absolutely valid, there are parts of our psyche that cannot be understood by cognitive functions alone. Leaving those unacknowledged, we are neglecting an enormous potential for self-discovery and development. Having a dream, a hunch, or an inspiration is quite as valid as information one learns from filling out a psychometric test.

An open door to creative expression

I love using journals, drawings, paintings (jewellery, of course) and any methods of expression as long as they help you to process and understand some parts of yourself that can’t simply be verbalised in the traditional talking-coaching setting. As you may know, I’m also a creativity coach and a jewellery maker, and I see immense value in working with materials in the external world that open up a different space for “thinking”.

Coaching relationship

Even in therapy, Jung resisted the idea that a psychologist is somehow above human struggles and should show the path to his patients. A hundred years later, we hopefully finally understand it fully, also outside of Jungian psychology. However, where Jungian psychology is still unique is the concept of the “wounded healer”, the imperfect human being, who meets another human being and creates a safe container that, through this relationship, has the potential to generate new insights and experiences. The demand on the therapist or a coach is to be willing to be transformed along with the client. It is, of course, not meant to take the client’s space, but rather open a space where we are all willing to go together. Some coaching modalities prefer the coach to be a blank slate, a sounding board or a mirror (all inanimate objects). I personally prefer to show up as a complex human being.

Like any topic, I find it difficult to summarise and put into simple points, but if any of this resonates with you and you would like to try some coaching with me, please check my calendar or get in touch for availability and other details.