Do you wish to more deeply examine yourself and your life? Perhaps you’ve been through a change and you are wondering about your purpose. You may be looking for ways to grow with grace and become better through difficulty rather than suffering.
It’s also possible you know the value of psychotherapy and wish to learn more. You may be curious about working with dreams, literature, poetry, graphic arts and music to communicate with your unconscious mind. It’s possible you’re already an artist or musician and want to improve your craft through unique modalities like dream analysis, which has been called “the golden path to the unconscious.”
Perhaps you spent the first half of your life developing a career and raising a family. As you grow older and things begin to change, you may be experiencing a new sense of emptiness. For example, your children may be leaving home to start their adult lives; you may be facing changes in your body as the years go by; you might be mourning the deaths of parents and/or loved ones.
At this point, you may be taking steps to reevaluate your life. You may be asking yourself, Is there more to this than I originally realized? Perhaps you’ve recognized that, as your life changes, the values that once served your desires and needs are no longer relevant. Or, you might simply wish to explore the hidden parts of yourself that reveal who you truly are.
Everyone faces transitions, difficulties, aging and self-doubt. When our lives change, so do we. Something that made sense to you throughout your life might become confusing; something you once cared about deeply could become a passion of the past. This internal movement makes room for what can become either dread or new life. What matters is how we respond to the inevitable changes that life throws our way. Being your authentic self in these circumstances isn’t easy. The good news is, it’s possible to deal with experiences gracefully. It’s possible to embrace and make sense of it all, rather than cling onto a version of yourself or your life that no longer serves you. And, if you’re on this page, you may feel completely ready to embrace the messages this new phase of life has to share.
Personal growth counseling is the process of trying to understand why you do things the way you do. Why are there certain people you don’t like? When do your responses to situations happen without your consent or conscious awareness?
This work can help you tap into your innate ability to grow, heal and improve; it is a way to find meaning in your life and become more comfortable with who you are. In Jungian psychology, this all-important process is called individuation.
Individuation is sought through communication with both the personal and collective unconscious. The unconscious mind sends us messages that can sometimes seem illogical—our dreams, for example. That’s because the unconscious speaks in symbols. Its messages can appear to us as “gut feelings” and intuitions.
In sessions, you will be guided to get in touch with your inner mind, where your personal unconscious and the collective unconscious meet. Through a dialogue with the unconscious, you can begin to learn the archetypes of your own mind and all the symbols stored in mankind’s shared memory.
One significant way we explore the unconscious realms is through dream analysis. The benefit of a third-party perspective is that I may see a wedge of light where you don’t. I may be able to point out elements that you can’t consciously see. It’s much harder to analyze a dream without a second pair of eyes.
For years I studied Jungian psychoanalysis, which is a salient part of my therapy practice. I myself have been in Jungian Analysis/personal growth and development counseling for seven years. I know that being your authentic self means facing what’s been hidden. And, the more you become yourself, the more your life might change. It is a challenge, but it’s also a journey.
Trust is the most important element to our sessions. Together, we can face whatever confusion and issues that may arise. We can collaborate in our thinking. I will be there through every step of the journey to support you.
After 10 years of working with clients, I have seen for myself that it’s possible to become closer to who you really are. It’s possible to find self-fulfillment and to project the kind of energy that people want to be around.
Why bother? I’m fine the way I am.
That’s a valid position to take. I understand why you might feel that way. But I believe that nothing ventured, nothing gained. You are the only one who can decide to grow and change.
Life is what you put into it. You might be perfectly fine going without the adventure of personal growth counseling. But, if you want more out of life, you’re not going to settle for where you’re at. You’re going to keep striving. You’re going to seek knowledge, understanding and meaning.
My recommendation would be to give it a shot. If you don’t try it, how can you know whether it’s right for you?
Is yours a scientifically backed approach?
There is a wealth of literature and clinical research supporting the validity of depth psychology and the process of individuation. It is a culturally known practice in many countries, especially Europe. If you’d like to do your own research before giving me a call, here is a good starting point: Article 1 Title + Link
What if I change and my partner doesn’t?
You can share this journey with your partner however you see fit. It’s possible that your relationship could become even stronger from the things you learn about yourself.
If you’d like for them to get more involved, certainly feel free to bring your partner into a session. It’s always possible they will help you discover who you are and want to be.