Melissa W Cooper
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
California # 141326
Jungian (Depth) Psychology
The insights provided by Depth Psychology (Jungian) have influenced not only psychotherapy but art, literature, religion, politics, and the shared aspects of human experience by emphasizing the relationship between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind. Achieving a balance of opposing internal and external forces such as light and shadow, masculine and feminine, order and chaos can lead to a more fulfilling life.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
Individuation
The lifelong process of becoming more fully yourself by embracing and integrating unconscious material into the conscious. Some important concepts of the unconscious are:
The Self: Represents the unification of the conscious and unconscious mind, striving for wholeness and self-realization.
The Shadow: The darker aspects of our personality that we often deny or project onto others.
The Anima and Animus: The feminine aspect within men (anima) and the masculine aspect within women (animus), representing the inner gender opposite.
The Persona: The social mask we wear, shaped by societal expectations and norms.
Our Mind
The Conscious Mind
Contains all things that you remember.
The Personal Unconscious
Consists of forgotten or repressed experiences that are unique to you.
The Collective Unconscious
Is shared among all human beings and houses universal experiences and archetypes that influence our behaviors, dreams, and myths.
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
Archetypes are universal and ancient patterns of behavior that can be used to interpret observations.
Depth Oriented Therapy
In a world where much of human experience remains hidden beneath the surface, Depth Psychology provides a means to uncover, explore, and understand the profound depths of the mind facilitating self Discovery and healing.
Conscious & Unconscious Coming Together
Personal Growth & Healing
Depth (Jungian) Psychology techniques aimed at bringing unconscious material into conscious awareness.
Dreams
Symbols
Archetypes
Active Imagination
Free Association
Artistic Expression
Mythological & Archetypal Exploration
Sandplay
Often an imbalance between our conscious and unconscious negatively effects our emotional well being. By focusing on the source of the imbalance, clients gain a greater sense of their authentic self, increased emotional well-being, and lasting growth.
Step One
My First Priority with every client is to co-create goals for therapy based on their needs and desires.
Step Two
Once goals have been set, we begin to explore their unconscious to identify hidden aspects and bring them into the conscious. Some of the methods we use are:
Dreams
Symbols
Archetypes
Active Imagination
Free Association
Artistic Expression
Mythological & Archetypal Exploration
Sandplay
Step Three
As we explore the unconscious mind, I help you to uncover hidden parts of your personality and integrate them into a more balanced and whole self. The process provides a means to uncover, explore, and understand the profound depths of your mind and live as your true self.