Stephen Martz

Carl Jung:

A pioneer of the psyche 

Along with Freud, Carl Jung was one of the great explorers of the human psyche during the 20th century.  Although his psychology sometimes sounds esoteric -- because he uses words like anima and animus, shadow and archetype -- it  actually is eminently practical and focused.

Jung considered individuation, the work of becoming fully who we are, to be the great task of human life.  One way we achieve this is through careful self       exploration, facilitated by an analyst who has engaged in her or his own deep inner journey.  

Analysis does not offer a quick fix based on changes of  behavior or habit, but seeks to help the analysand discover his or her own, unique Self and its blueprint for living. 

Where many psychologies seek symptom relief and adaptation, Jungian analysis encourages a journey of deep self knowledge.

(adapted from a North Pacific Institute for Analytical Psychology text)

What is

Jungian analysis?

Jungian analysis is a longer term psychotherapeutic endeavor that seeks to assist the analysand to individuate.  By individuation, Jung means a process of discovering and learning to live from our authentic selves. 

This process proceeds differently for each individual, but in general the aim of analysis is to increase our awareness of the fullness of our soul, bringing consciousness into a more dynamic relationship with the unconscious. 

There are many paths to achieve this goal -- dream work is an important part of many analyses, as are other tecniques and practices -- from careful examination of the dynamics that play out between analyst and analysand to a process Jung called active imagination.  Yet every analysis is unique, because each person is unique.

Steve and others who are trained as analysts typically spend many years preparing to do this kind of psychological work.  This extensive preparation equips many analysts to work at the deepest levels of the human psyche.