Depth Psychotherapy

What is depth psychotherapy?

Falling into the bleakness of depression, gripped by the unspeakable memories, pushed into despair by constant anxiety, feeling there is no way out: these are the calls to your depths, into the deep soul of your life. And, this is the way to healing.

The call to know oneself shows up like symptoms of a secret and shameful illness, forcing you to turn inwards to listen to what is there. This can feel scary and wrong, especially if you are trying to always live in the light of our success-driven, self-branding-obsessed culture. Many people ignore the call, or anesthetize it with working harder, drinking/drugging more, social media distractions, chasing relationships, and other addictions. But the call will be there, your soul waiting for you to see it and engage with it.

This invitation to explore one’s depth is not to be taken lightly. Not all are sent for in this way. But if you are, to ignore this call is often to suffer, because the questions and the symptoms will continue to plague you until they are faced.

Depth psychotherapy offers a way to acknowledge and know this voice of the soul via a journey through the dark places. As your therapist on this journey, I am not a “healer” but I can give you my steady presence, compassionate witness, skilled guidance, experienced help and support, as we go together on your journey to and through the root of the issues. You may not believe that your own unique healing intelligence is in you, but I know that it is, because you would not reach out for this help otherwise. The voice of your unique healing intelligence is what I listen for, and what we will build on, as we discuss the details of your life, your memories, your dreams, your longing, your complexity, your experiences, your pain and your joy, throughout our work together.

Therapy that goes to the depth you need.

Psychotherapy in relationship with the unconscious, with the soul.

For some, this has the importance of a sacred process.

What happens in depth psychotherapy?

I often say it feels like “regular” talk therapy, and in the sense that almost all talk therapy done today is based on the depth psychology developed/discovered by Freud and Jung, it is. (see my page on Psychotherapy for more details on a typical session).

In addition to the details of your life and memories, we might talk about dreams, fantasies, visions, and experiences in non-ordinary consciousness.

Here are a few concepts that are often touched on in depth psychotherapy:

Archetypal psychology: We will explore the archetypes or central images around which the problems of your life are constellated. For instance, the archetype of the Victim shows up in most everyone’s life. When and how do you feel unable to make your own choices, imprisoned by others’ behaviors and needs? This is how the Victim can take control, making you think you have no choice and no options, that you are at the mercy of someone or everyone else. In working with the Victim, we first befriend this bedraggled over-burdened, helplessly angry creature, and then we get to know it. Once a relationship of trust is established, we encourage and give space to your Victim to grow in the unique ways it needs to grow. Your Victim, once understood and allowed to grow through wisdom gained in review of its experience, can paradoxically become your friend and ally, helping you discern who to trust, who not to trust.

Shadow work: With compassion and acceptance, we will explore your shadow, the unknown and most feared parts of the self. Shame often accompanies the shadow, trying to keep itself hidden from our awareness. But in working with acceptance and compassionate curiosity we can get to know these most hidden parts of the self. And by getting to know these parts, they can become your strongest internal allies and friends.

Individuation: Depth psychotherapy is about the process of becoming oneself (in Jungian terms, individuation), rather than striving to change into something “better” or “more acceptable”. This means walking through uncharted territory, because no one has ever been you before. There is no template or prescripted set of steps. Living your life is a creative act.

Depth psychotherapy is not about “fixing” something that is “broken”.

Rather it is about listening deeply to what is trying to speak. It invites us to engage with our suffering in meaningful ways, honoring the symbolic language of psyche. Depth psychotherapy is not simply about feeling better; it is about getting better at feeling. Through this process, you can discover not only relief, but transformation—finding within yourself a richer, more personally meaningful relationship to life.

Wondering how this work might help you? Give me a call at 360-287-4391, or fill out the form below.