Jungian-Informed Relational Psychotherapy in North Leeds

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Welcome. As a UKCP-accredited therapist, I draw on a wide range of influences, but a key cornerstone of my practice is the influence of Carl Jung and those who have expanded upon his legacy. My own journey with Jungian thought began early in life when my father gave me a copy of Modern Man in Search of a Soul (1933)—a gift that sparked a lifelong fascination with the hidden architecture of the human psyche.

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In our work together, we have the option to draw on Jung’s insights into Dreams, Shadow Work, and Active Imagination. These are not just theoretical concepts; they are illuminative tools for discovering 'exiled' parts of the self and restoring psychological balance. For more about why dreams are important click here.

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How do you integrate Jung into your work?

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Jung’s legacy is vast, but several elements are central to how I work:

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• Beyond the Surface: While Freud often viewed our behavior through the lens of early childhood alone, Jung believed our psychological energy (libido) is multifaceted. It isn't just about where we've been; it's about where we are going.

• Understanding Complexes: Our lives are often shaped by 'complexes'—clusters of feelings and energies that can feel overwhelming. When we are in the 'grip' of a complex, we can feel helpless or 'tossed about' or 'possessed'

• Finding Freedom from archetypal energies: Therapy involves bringing these powerful clusters into awareness. As we dialogue with them, you gain the freedom to 'walk around' these parts of yourself, growing in consciousness rather than being driven by the unconscious- even using energies 'homeopathically' to discover how symptoms can be treated as potenialities rather than enemies.

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Our collaborative work can shed light on several vital areas of your life:

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What is Anima and Animus? 

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Jung's term for the soul which often appear in gendered images. Exploring the relationship between inner masculine and feminine energies can help us  to better understand how we relate to parents and intimate partners, as well as our inner selves. Working on masculine and feminine imagery is just one example of what Jung called 'holding the tension of the opposites'- the belief that freedom and balance is found through dialogue between polarised extremes. 

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What are psychological types how can knowing this help? 

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 Jung developed the terms thinking, feeling, sensing and intuition as ways of understanding how we process the world. This can help us understand our unique brains and nervous systems with insight and compassion. How we relate to our superpowers and areas of vulnerability can have a massive impact on our relationships and sense of self-esteem. Jung believed that growth and individuation often happen through welcoming our unloved and less competent parts - he called this our inferior function.

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What is projection?

We all use projection in everyday life, often as a kind of psycholigical short hand in the world of relationships but it can be harmful. When we identify the qualities we 'exile' in ourselves and inadvertently project onto those around us we can understand how 'black and white' and polarised thinking operates in ourselves and our wider political and cultural context. See shadow work below. 

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The Path of Individuation:

 

Jung described life as a process of becoming your unique, real self. This often involves forming a 'persona' in the first half of life, and then—often during a quarter-life or mid-life crisis—feeling a terrifying yet vital demand to discover deeper, more distinctive values.

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 If you feel you are at a crossroads, I invite you to explore how these 'unlived' parts of your story can become sources of wisdom.

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