Why is it Called Depth Psychology?

Become Conscious of Deeper Internal Thoughts and Feelings Through Depth Psychology

Depth work helps you to become conscious of your deeper internal thoughts, feelings and stored life experiences. You gently open up to the layers of your own depths, the complex and beautiful parts of your psyche. Depth work helps you unwind the hidden wisdom of the unconscious. 

In addition, Depth Psychology engages in an organic process of self-reflection, self-exploration, and self-discovery that takes place in a safe and therapeutic connection between the therapist and the client.

Who does Depth Work?

Anyone looking to heal from trauma or other life issues, expand, and create the life they wish to live! On Pacifica Graduate Institute’s website Depth Psychology is described as an interdisciplinary endeavor, drawing on literature, philosophy, mythology, the arts, and critical studies. Depth Psychology embraces Eco-psychology, and is attentive to culture and ethnicity. As a Depth Psychologist, I am experienced in this approach and its applications and am ready to guide you on the journey to a deeper understanding of self.

What is the Psyche?

The psyche consists of all the layers of your consciousness including what we call the unconscious, the areas of our self we do not know well, or at all. What this means is, for example, most of us, at some point in life, notice that we behave and react in ways which we do not like.

There is a Deeply Seated Reason For Our Behaviors

We may not be able to explain why we react in certain ways, and we may feel badly when we do. Sometimes friends, partners or co-workers make us aware of our behaviors! There is a deeply seated reason for how we react, the choices we make in life. We can get to the hidden origin of behaviors, thoughts, feelings and beliefs.

How does Depth Psychology Work?

Depth psychology engages with the psyche, for example, through dream images, through your imagination, with art, with myth or fairy tale, with metaphor, synchronicity, and archetypes. Remember the “Freudian slip”? The original term for it is parapraxis and it means a little error in speech or memory which is actually expressing an unconscious need, attitude or wish!

Small Messages From Your Unconscious

If you forget to attend a party you did not wish to attend! Or if you lose something, like an invitation to a party! If you accidentally say, “I will talk to you next year, when you meant to say next week! These are examples of small messages from you unconscious, yet they may be gently investigated to help you know and understand yourself, and help you to live more authentically. 

What is your Personal Myth?

Depth psychology allows you to discover who you are in your own life story. What is your myth? Further, what story do you tell yourself about YOU? Are you the hard worker? The heroine or hero? Or the mother or father? The Outcast? Maybe the Lover? The Misunderstood? How about he Rescuer? The Victim? Or the Detective?

Archetypes

All of these characters are archetypes, they all have a certain role from which they do not stray. When we discover our personal myth we observe more closely our role or roles and we are able to more clearly choose which suits us best. If you have a favorite movie or book, there is likely a great connection you can note between yourself and that story. All cultures use story!

Why work with Dreams?

One of my shamanic teachers said to me, “A dream is a gift from the divine, why would you not open that package?!” What my teacher was referring to is the magic of the unconscious. Dreams contain messages in image form, sound form, and feeling form. Some dreams are bits of the previous day needing some processing, some dreams are prophetic, some dreams feel like actual events or visitations. Some dreams are nightmares.

Dream Work, a Portal to Understanding Yourself

Regardless of the type of dream, any dream you remember can be a stunning portal to understanding yourself. Your unconscious uses metaphor, the image of a dog in a dream may be showing you loyalty or freedom, or whatever your personal connection to dog happens to be! Any dream you remember in great detail is likely a very important package to open! A recurring dream is showing you something that needs attention, something you have not quite worked out within yourself. Dream work is magical, moving, fun and profound.