I believe in a unique approach to personalized mental health care that caters to the individual’s needs and circumstances and not to the insurance companies profit margins. In this blog I will discuss how art therapy is a synergistic approach when incorporated in Jungian Psychology to help people find meaning through their struggles, empowerment, and integration of themselves in a holistic way.
Understanding the Complexity of Your Inner World
Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of self-doubt or confusion, even though you can’t pinpoint exactly why? Maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Why can’t I figure this out?” or “If there’s nothing wrong with me, why do I feel this way?” Many people wrestle with these questions when trying to make sense of their internal struggles.
Our inner worlds are complex and unique. However, generalized programs and manualized treatments often fall short of addressing the nuanced and deeply personal nature of our experiences. That’s where approaches like parts work and Internal Family Systems (IFS) can offer a more individualized and compassionate way forward.
Why Traditional Manuals and Programs Might Not Work for You
One of the things that bugs me the most about programs and manuals is that they assume, based on societal averages, that the diagnostic statistical model already knows what you’re suffering from, how you’re suffering, and what you need to be better and more “well-adjusted” to society.
The other assumption is that you lack education, motivation, or willingness to change, or that you aren’t following the doctor’s orders, or something like that. The approach above relies on Freud’s theories of psychopathology. But here’s the thing—the root word “path” refers to the way or your journey and represents what grieves you. The Jungian approach is a more soulful one with room for peculiarities, preferences, and internal darkness. The shadow forms when you pretend parts of you don’t exist or don’t deserve to exist, and you disavow them. The formation of the shadow is inevitable. However, I believe in a therapy that, instead of further shaming the individual, supports, embraces, and reintegrates those broken-off pieces rather than further shoving them out the door with incessant reframes and positive thinking. I talk more about the truth about shadow work in my video here.
How Complex Theory Honors Your Unique Journey
I appreciate that complex theory allows the therapist and patient to work together to map out how the complexes function. It considers the individual’s experiences, needs, perceptions, and desired outcomes. I see over and over with my clients something click, really sink in, and affect them emotionally and physically when we get to an exact fit for how their complex works within their psyche. This experience shows a unique approach and personalized mental health can be so critical for actual change in someone’s life.
When working with my patients, I always emphasize that the advice you might read in a book or a manual isn’t necessarily going to work for your unique situation. Your living organism, the totality of your body and mind, is a complex system requiring a personalized approach.
We see this in neural pathways, learning styles, personality types, and the cultural variations that shape us. Your unique history has determined what you care about, how you see things, what feels good and what doesn’t, your values, and your definition of a meaningful life.
The Role of Archetypes and Complexes in Your Inner Critic
For one person, a complex that acts as the inner critic might need you to put it in its place like an oppositional 8-year-old boy, alternatively, it might need compassionate listening, begging you to rest. You might have a complex that is trying to keep you safe but is also, in some ways, causing your self-destruction.
Or you may have a complex that makes you feel lonely and isolated, requiring a very different interaction. This complexity is why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
Active Imagination: A Dynamic Approach to Parts Work
This problem is what I love about active imagination
. It’s similar to parts work in Internal Family Systems. Still, when you consider that you are interacting with living psychic phenomena within you, it’s challenging to manualize this interaction.
Active imagination works by sitting in a relaxed state and inviting that feeling, self-talk, complex, or even a physical sensation to interact with you using your imagination. The process of active imagination is similar to trance work and daydreaming. It is an active process, but unlike lucid dreaming, you are not necessarily controlling the process because you’re trying to interact with this internal energy to get insight and unexpected outcomes from it.
This is why you have to be relaxed to engage in this picture-making, imaginative process. Too much control can pinch off or squelch the flow of creative energy. If you already knew what you wanted, you wouldn’t be questioning it, would you?
Remember, you don’t have to know what the outcome will be when you co-create with parts of yourself while connecting to archetypes on a universal level within the collective unconscious. It’s okay not to have all the answers, and that’s part of the beauty of this process. Sometimes, it’s about knowing the questions to ask rather than arriving at a concrete answer.
Art Therapy: Bridging the Gap Between Knowing and Feeling
Art making is like active imagination because, as you interact with the art, it helps you connect with your responses, feelings, and what you
need to express. I don’t know what the answer is for you—it’s not fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice. As we work, you start to get a full appreciate of your personal symbol set that is a unique language. The images speak to how to approach your unique needs for mental health.
And here’s the thing—you don’t have to know the answer. Many of my patients start with me not knowing their goals because they’re stuck, unable to see the path forward. They don’t see the missing piece, the gap between where they are and where they want to be.
But as we make art together and explore their dream images, we start to understand what that archetypal situation is, how that energy pattern affects their behavior, thoughts, and feelings, and how they can align as a complete organism, reaching toward wholeness.
Embracing Your Unique Path to Wholeness and Wellness
In the journey toward self-understanding and healing, it’s essential to honor the complexity of your individual experience. Popular “evidence-based” models (read here, profitable for the insurance company) may offer guidance. Still, they often need to catch up with the reality of living with multiple parts and complexes.
Through practices like active imagination, art therapy, and a deep engagement with your inner world, you can uncover the unique path that leads you toward wholeness. Remember, it’s okay not to have all the answers. What’s important is your willingness to engage with the process and be open to what emerges as you co-create your healing journey. Your active participation and openness are crucial in this process.
Final Thoughts on Personalized Mental Healthcare
If this approach resonates with you, I invite you to explore more of what I offer. Learn how I work with complex trauma, which can include experiences like childhood abuse, neglect, or a history of experiencing dysfunctional parenting. I incorporate art therapy into my work with clients so that they can explore, do visual processing and symbolic expression, and connect with their bodies while we work. Art can be a secure container that holds your feelings and psyche as you go through your therapeutic journey.
If you’re ready to take the next step, consider joining our upcoming group sessions or scheduling a personal consultation to discuss your unique needs in a personalized approach to mental health. Let’s create a path that aligns with your inner world.