Author Archives: Jason E. Smith

More on Depth Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

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I'm following up my post about Jonathan Shedler's work on psychodynamic psychotherapy with a promotional video that he made for Pacifica Graduate Institute. In it he discusses his research and the value of this therapeutic approach.

One of the points Shedler makes in the video is that therapeutic success is, in large part, due to the quality of the therapeutic relationship. He suggests that this relational factor is central to a psychodynamic approach. And while there are certainly high quality relationships that form in other treatment modalities, it is psychodynamic therapy which makes the understanding of transference and countertransference dynamics a primary focus of treatment. 

Shedler makes other interesting points about learning to think psychologically and about the distinction between two kinds of practitioners--the clinicians and the technicians. He says:

"I think in the future there will be two kinds of therapists. There will be technicians who follow instruction manuals and there will be real clinicians who are able to understand their patients deeply and help them live more authentically."

Here is the video:

Psychotherapy

The Evidence For Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

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The therapeutic approach of Depth Psychology is psychodynamic in its nature. That is, it takes into account the interaction of both conscious and unconscious factors in human experience. In many circles, psychodynamic approaches are seen as relics of the past. They have been replaced by quicker, cheaper, and presumably more effective “evidence based treatments,” such […]

Approaching The Numinous

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One aspect that differentiates Jungian Depth Psychology from other forms of therapy, is the importance that is placed on religious or numinous experiences.


For Jung, the experience of the numinous is the essential element of psychotherapy. In one of his letters he wrote: 

"You are quite right, the main interest of my work is not concerned with the treatment of neurosis but rather with the approach to the numinous. But the fact is that the approach to the numinous is the real therapy and inasmuch as you attain to the numinous experiences you are released from the curse of pathology. Even the very disease takes on a numinous character." 

Here is a video of Jungian Analyst Lionel Corbett, discussing the importance of such numinous experiences:

What is Depth Psychology?

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I am planning a series of posts about Depth Psychology, exploring what it is, the people who practice it and write about it, and how a depth-oriented psychotherapy understands and seeks to effect healing. 

I'm kicking off this series with this video in which Stephen Aizenstat, the founding president of Pacifica Graduate Institute, offers his attempt at a definition of Depth Psychology:

 

Stories & Psychotherapy

Stories and the Soul

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“From my perspective as a depth psychologist, I see that those who have a connection with story are in better shape  and have a better prognosis than those to whom story must be introduced. …to have ‘story-awareness’ is per se psychologically therapeutic. It is good for soul.” ~ James HillmanOne of the fundamental ideas of Jungian Psychology […]

James Hillman

R.I.P. James Hillman

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Here is the New York Times obituary of James Hillman, who passed away yesterday. Hillman was one of the founders of Archetypal Psychology, an elaboration of Jungian Psychology. He was an enormously creative person, a champion of the soul, and a prophet of the imagination. His passing represents a tectonic shift in the Jungian world and […]

Freud in a psychotherapy session

The Death of Psychotherapy

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Last week, I came across an interview on Time’s website in which Alan Kazdin, former president of the American Psychological Association and Yale psychology professor, suggested that individual therapy is outdated and needed to be essentially eliminated as a method of providing mental health care. I reviewed the article as I was preparing to write about it […]

Man Grieving

What Grief Needs

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I came across an interesting article on Slate about grief. The article is called, How to Help Friends in Mourning and it is part of a larger series on grief that Slate ran this past Spring and Summer. Authors Meghan O’Rourke and Leeat Granek conducted a survey to find out, in their words, what grief is actually […]

Jung's Anima

Jung’s Anima

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Sabina Spielrein, a pioneer of psychoanalysis Photo: MIA OVERGAARD An interesting article posted on the Telegraph website about the early history of psychoanalysis and Jung’s relationship with Sabina Spielrein. The article was prompted by the upcoming release of the movie A Dangerous Method, about the relationship between Jung, Freud, and Spielrein. The movie is directed by […]

Work is a call to adventure

Work and Vocation

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Image courtesy of khunaspix / FreeDigitalPhotos.net “Work begins when you don’t like what you’re doing.” ~ Joseph Campbell Brian Collinson is a Jungian Analyst in Canada who writes a blog called Vibrant Jung Thing. He has an interesting post this week giving a Jungian perspective on career transition.This is a topic that has a special meaning […]