Jungian therapy, also known as Jungian analysis or analytical psychology, is a depth-oriented approach to psychotherapy developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, which focuses primarily on past experiences and unconscious drives, Jungian therapy explores the psyche in a more holistic and symbolic way. It aims to help individuals achieve individuation—a lifelong process of becoming one’s true self by integrating the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind.
At the core of Jungian therapy is the belief that the unconscious mind is not just a repository for repressed memories, but also a source of wisdom, creativity, and guidance. The unconscious is expressed through symbols, dreams, myths, and archetypes—universal images and themes that appear across cultures and histories. Common archetypes include the Hero, the Shadow, the Mother, and the Wise Old Man, among others.
Jungian therapists often use dream analysis, active imagination, and interpretation of symbols to uncover the deeper meaning behind a client’s inner experiences. For example, a recurring dream of being chased might represent a confrontation with one’s “Shadow”—the darker, unacknowledged aspects of the personality that need to be recognized and integrated rather than denied or suppressed.
One of the distinguishing features of Jungian therapy is its emphasis on the spiritual and mythological dimensions of human life. It is especially helpful for individuals undergoing life transitions, experiencing existential crises, or seeking deeper personal meaning. Rather than simply eliminating symptoms, Jungian therapy seeks to transform suffering into growth by guiding individuals toward self-awareness and wholeness.
The therapeutic relationship in Jungian analysis is collaborative and exploratory. The analyst and client work together to explore the symbolic messages that emerge in therapy, treating the psyche as a living, dynamic system. Sessions may include discussions about dreams, personal experiences, creative work, or even material from religion and mythology.
Jungian therapy typically unfolds over a longer period than other modalities. While it can be helpful for treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues, it is especially valued for its capacity to help people navigate deep psychological and spiritual journeys. It appeals to individuals interested in personal development, creativity, and exploring the depths of the unconscious.
In today’s world, Jungian therapy remains influential in both clinical and cultural contexts. It has shaped practices in art therapy, depth psychology, literature, and film. Many modern psychotherapists incorporate Jungian ideas, even if they do not practice full analytic therapy.
Ultimately, Jungian therapy invites individuals to view psychological symptoms not merely as problems to be fixed, but as messages from the unconscious calling them to growth and transformation. By listening to these messages—through dreams, symbols, and inner reflections—people can embark on a path toward a more authentic and meaningful life.
From a Jungian point of view, depression as an unconscious compensation which needs to be made conscious. Jungian theory holds that the psyche is a self-regulating adaptive system. If the energy in this system gets blocked, the psyche gets stuck. When adaptation is thwarted, the psychic energy stops flowing and regresses. According to Jung, this breakdown manifests in maladaptive conditions such as depression.
Jung proposed that the human psychic can schism, split and form complexes that take over a person’s personality. The principles of adaptation, projection and compensation are central processes in Jung’s view of psyche’s ability to adapt to change. With depression, the person is seen as being unable to successfully adapt to radical changes in their external and internal realities.
The aim of Jungian psychotherapy is to assist the individual in reestablishing a healthy relationship to the unconscious: neither flooded by it or out of balance with it. For Jung, lack of individuation is seen as a driver for depression. Because individuation is seen as a process by which individuals become more fully themselves, the idea is that a person who is not individuated is at odds with themselves.
To undergo the individuation process, individuals must be open to the parts of themselves beyond their own ego. An individual grows through attention to dreams, exploration of religion and spirituality and by questioning assumptions of the operant societal worldview, rather than just blindly living life in accordance with dominant norms.
In Jungian psychotherapy, the client gets to their core through an intentional act of introversion, which is something like meditation. The therapist has the client start with the feeling itself. If depression feels fearful, then the client enters that feeling of fear. Typically the therapist will instruct the client not to attach any external meaning to the feeling and to just experience it.
Another one of Jungian psychotherapy’s tools for treating depression is finding the original cause; the root of the problem that caused the psychic suffering. For the depressed person, this means recognizing their shadow and letting the darkest side of their personality come to the surface. Jung’s therapeutic approach consisted of rectifying the imbalance of psychic energy by helping the ego to integrate unconscious contents.
It’s also essential for the Jungian therapist to identify the client’s affective complexes (e.g. needs, obsessions, feelings of admiration). Analyzing the unconscious, which is often loaded with troubles, voids, and neglected needs, is the vital for recovery from depression.
With Jungian therapy it’s important to note that it is an in-depth type of therapy that potentially can take a good amount time to achieve its goals. Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing, especially if you feel as though you want to delve into untapped parts of your subconscious and deal with issues beyond the surface level.
Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Author Bio
Dr. Randi Fredricks is a leading expert in the field of mental health counseling and psychotherapy, with over three decades of experience in both research and practice. She holds a PhD from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and has published ground-breaking research on communication, mental health, and complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Fredricks is a best-selling author of books on the treatment of mental health conditions with complementary and alternative medicine. Her work has been featured in leading academic journals and is recognized worldwide. She currently is actively involved in developing innovative solutions for treating mental health. To learn more about Dr. Fredricks’ work, visit her website: https://drrandifredricks.com
References
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Fordham, F. (1966). An Introduction to Jung’s Psychology. Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin Books.
Fredricks, Randi. (2020). Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Depression. Bloomington, IN: Author House.
Beebe, J. (1993). A Jungian Approach to Working with Dreams. In G. Delaney (ed.), New Directions in Dream Interpretation (pp. 77-101). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
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