Archetypes In Therapy - Jung - And Spirituality.

[Mayday]

"normal" survival sense

out of interest, I'd be curious to know what is considered normal survival sense? does she explain that in the book? I may have to look her up at the library

Also how did you gain confidence in your dream interpretation? I dream quite a lot, mostly I know they are nonsense dreams but often I do get ones that have a different feel about them and I know they are significant in some way but struggle with knowing how they are significant.

 

[Hashi]

Abstract, I've been thinking about your original question about therapy incorporating Jungian ideas.

For me, everything led to working with Jungian concepts. I was already doing dream interpretation, writing from the subconscious, working with archetypes, interested in mysticism and studying metaphysics. I'm very "Jungian". Even for me, therapy using Jungian concepts seemed problematic. There are concepts I have no interest in at all, like complexes, and if my therapist was used to working with that framework I think that would have been tricky.

I'm not sure how much clicks with you other than archetypes. Maybe you won't know until you've read more. If the amount that clicks with you is not that large, and you also see some potential obstacles in the approach, I'm not sure how useful it would be to seek therapy that incorporates it.

My initial psychotherapy, where I worked with archetypes on my own and my therapist was happy for me to talk through that with her, was fine for me for a while. I needed to move over to something else after that because my whole world view is metaphysical, but otherwise I could have continued in that way with a new therapist who was willing to work like that.

It also seems to me that you are very psychologically minded rather than drawn to mysticism. Please correct me on that if you don't agree. If you want to explore spirituality/metaphysical ideas for their own sake, then I think a transpersonal therapist or someone else who is trained in Jungian concepts is ideal. If you're trying to tackle ideas about spirituality only to get at a couple of concepts that might be useful, like Jungian archetypes, I can't help wondering if you can't get to what you want with pure psychology without grappling with the spirituality issues at all.

My impression, which may not be right, is that subpersonality work or an approach like Internal Family Systems might give you what you want. I'd be interested to know your thoughts about those types of approaches... if ever and whenever you have time to think! I know you're very busy right now.

 

[Hashi]

what is considered normal survival sense?

I've only heard Myss talk about this in the Healing Trauma audiobook. I think the example she gives is someone getting into a car. Without knowing it, an unconscious part of them is scanning the car for defects, scanning the immediate neighbourhood for danger, scanning the road around for risks. All they are aware of is getting into the car, but if part of the car was smashed, or someone was lurking nearby, or there was debris on the road in front of it, they'd notice these things and react, because their unconscious had been checking for them.

When we've been traumatised, this sense is damaged. We didn't develop it as other children did. So, we might see someone suspicious out of the corner of our eye and react too slowly or inappropriately (eg take no notice, smile at them). We might be so dissociated we don't even see them.

Therefore, to keep ourselves safe now we have to do that consciously (eg consciously go through a mental checklist when getting into a car), by developing our inner intuition (so we're using a more intuitive alert system) and by being alert to outer guidance too.

mostly I know they are nonsense dreams

I wouldn't be so sure. The most nonsense-seeming ones can be very significant.

Also how did you gain confidence in your dream interpretation?

By doing it loads! Also using books.

I could say more about dream interpretation but I might be taking the thread off-topic.

Abstract, is this relevant to what you're asking about or would you rather it was in a different thread?

 

[Mayday]

So, we might see someone suspicious out of the corner of our eye and react too slowly or inappropriately (eg take no notice, smile at them). We might be so dissociated we don't even see them.

Therefore, to keep ourselves safe now we have to do that consciously (eg consciously go through a mental checklist when getting into a car), by developing our inner intuition (so we're using a more intuitive alert system) and by being alert to outer guidance too.

that makes so much sense! I think I am often dissociated and on auto-pilot, or as you say, I see those red-flags but react too slowly or in appropriately...I will have to think on that. I have many times where I've heard that little voice going "hmm...not sure here", pushed it aside and then regretted not stopping to listen to what that voice was telling me.

This is getting off topic - sorry Abstract! I may start up a new thread re the dreams...but think I will try keeping a record of them for now and see how that goes...thanks so much Hashi :)