Psychoanalysis is an in-depth method of looking at the internal world of an individual. It’s changed greatly over the century, but the central aims have remained the same. We don’t know ourselves very well. Analysis is about bringing us into contact with ourselves in a very direct and honest way. In analysis we look at your early relationships, your current relationships and the relationship between you and me as patient and analyst. Dreams can be an important way of coming into direct contact with an unfiltered internal world. But rather than grand and intellectual interpretations I think that it is your experience in and with the dream that opens up new ways to seeing one’s self. Analysis is an intensive process of between 3 and 5 sessions a week. Why so intensive? This is because we see that it is very difficult to change. Our minds have a stunning capacity to hide important pieces of who we are - and with the intensity of sessions the ability to hide is less easy. We’ve also found that only sustained work can really help us achieve self-understanding and to resolve intransigent difficulties.
Why Jungian?
When I worked in mental health services in the UK I found that the Jungian analysts and therapists were a bunch of people who were whole and contentedly imperfect, they seemed integrated and full, warm-blooded individuals. There was something about the method which seemed to make a well-rounded person. A description I heard from another analyst was that Jungian analysis is the friendlier face of psychoanalysis and I agree that the Jungians make analysis accessible whilst nevertheless being rigorous in training and clinical work.
