Honoring Life - Honoring the Soul Approach
therapeutic counseling practice. Carl Jung was a pioneer in psychiatry and psychotherapy during the last century. As a scholar, researcher, thinker, and theoretician, he founded the analytical school of psychotherapy. In doing so, Carl Jung influenced generations of psychotherapists. Jung's lifelong quest to understand the workings of the psyche led him to develop an approach to the psychology of the individual (analytical psychology) that pursues healing in both matter and in spirit. Possibility
trying to work through and accomplish in their psychological problems. He recognized that people were trying to heal, even in all their difficulty. His approach is prospective, meaning people work toward possibility and open new paths for themselves, coming closer to their own individual nature and away from the conditioning of what he called the collective. People try to create more effective and whole personalities during the course of their lives. This concept exists in my counseling practice. I accept people where they are. I do not make assumptions about what is needed or see current problems as simply neurotic or label them. I view them respectfully -- as attempts to resolve problems or difficulties and to find one's own path and sense of self. It is important to begin wherever it makes sense for a person. An individual's problems or hurdles may be difficult, but we start where a person is comfortable. I work in such a manner that we get beneath the presenting symptom to the underlying issue or issues. In this way, a more profound personal experience or movement toward healing can occur. This approach is holistic -- it honors psyche, mind, body, and spirit. The Client and Counselor Relationship
concept is validated today. Contemporary research indicates that the quality of the client and counselor relationship is the most important factor in a therapeutic process. In my practice, we start with exploration of the issues troubling you, at a pace that suits your needs. We work on establishing trust, your sense of safety and the ability to work together on topics important to you. Together, we move toward understanding distress and difficulties. Over time, we work on being aware of what is happening in and outside of sessions. This might include as patterns, responses, and attitudes that may be limiting your sense of self, what Jung would say is getting in the way of your living a fuller life. We work with them within the counseling relationship. We are mindful. We pay close attention to forgotten dreams, interests, and abilities.
energies, histories, and traits. It is key to match treatment to a person's unique needs. One person's issues must be respected as different from any other person's. There are, however, shared aspects of the counseling process that I value and that contribute to helping individuals with their work. They are:
Working With Images
and fantasies. He pioneered techniques, often referred to as expressive work. One example is example is working with images from a person's dreams. He found symbols to be living elements that bear paying attention to. Another is the invitation to draw one's dreams, feelings, thoughts, or distress. This is not a demand to make art, but an opportunity to express emotion, inner energy or other effort, however it is expressed. Another is to return to childhood stories. He treated these images as an integral, living, and meaningful parts of the therapeutic process. Jungian psychotherapists expanded the use of expression in therapy. For example, they encouraged journaling, sand play, dance, dream work, drama, body movement, and an approach Jung named Active Imagination. In my practice, images are part of counseling as they are potentially helpful. As you are comfortable, we work with your images, orienting it in context and feeling. For example, you may draw a dream image. You may consider a referral to a group for body movement, psychodrama, music, or other expression as you are open to it. I encourage expressive forms in our sessions, especially when someone grapples with a depression or anxiety. Seeking a Trained, Licensed Counselor
stressed that professional practitioners must undertake their own therapy as well as continue training and learning. These elements are respected in my practice through personal work, training, consultation, and professional supervision. In this way, I show empathy and respect for what a person brings to each session. This also means that if I conclude that my training and preparation does not match your needs, or if you feel you need another approach, I will make my best effort to refer you to another licensed counselor, social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist who more closely suits your needs.
relationship include what confidentiality is in therapy. You will review my confidentiality statement. You are encouraged to ask questions. You are encouraged to bring up matters of concern or interest about the counseling process, how we work together, or other questions you have. You will also review my Professional Disclosure Statement, which helps to ground my approach. In sessions, we talk about what is important to you at the pace suited to your needs. Please know that I prefer to work with clients for longer vs shorter periods of time; this is relative to each client, but brief therapy is not a part of my practice. Additional Information
difficulties or questions. Jung offered the insight that there is something within us that wants and needs to grow, regardless of our age. All of us have a deep drive to find a more effective way of living and to find meaning in the way we live our lives. In fall of 2008, a leading medical journal cited that longer-term therapy is very effective, "According to comparative analyses of controlled trials, long-term, psychodynamic psychotherapy showed significantly higher outcomes in overall effectiveness, target problems, and personality functioning than shorter forms of psychotherapy" JAMA [Journal of the American Medical Association] 2008;300 (13):1551-1565. Jungian therapy is specifically a psychodynamic therapy (one that recognizes the unconscious), and is typically a longer- term therapy, depending upon the needs of the client. More To read about the Swiss psychiatrist and mental health pioneer Carl G. Jung, two helpful websites are listed below. Also See Counseling Resources for books, websites and other publications that may be helpful or of interest: www.cgjungpage.org http://www.freudfile.org/jung/ |
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| Counseling Services of NE Portland Counseling for Psychological and Educational Well Being Hollywood District, Portland, Oregon 503-287-1526 |
| There's a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn't change. from William Stafford, The Thread See Poems |
| Telephone: 503-287-1526 |
