What if your psyche is trying to heal itself through symptoms, dreams, and patterns? That's the perspective of depth psychology. With my PhD in depth psychology, I bring a unique lens to therapy that honors the wisdom of the unconscious mind. Let me explain how depth psychology differs from other approaches and how exploring dreams and symbols can lead to profound transformation.

Understanding Depth Psychology

The Depth Perspective

Core Principles:

• Psyche has inherent wisdom

• Symptoms have meaning

• Unconscious communicates symbolically

• Past lives in present

• Healing comes through understanding

Unlike approaches that focus solely on symptom reduction, depth psychology asks: "What is psyche trying to express?"

Key Concepts

The Unconscious

• Vast realm beyond awareness

• Contains repressed material

• Holds collective wisdom

• Speaks in symbols

• Influences daily life

Complexes

• Emotionally charged idea clusters

• Form around core experiences

• Operate autonomously

• Create repetitive patterns

• Can be integrated consciously

Shadow

• Rejected aspects of self

• Both positive and negative

• Projected onto others

• Integration brings wholeness

• Everyone has shadow

Individuation

• Becoming whole person

• Integrating unconscious material

• Finding authentic self

• Lifelong process

• Ultimate psychological goal

The Power of Dream Work

Why Dreams Matter

Dreams Are:

• Letters from unconscious

• Compensatory to conscious attitude

• Processing daily experience

• Revealing hidden dynamics

• Offering new perspectives

"The dream is a little hidden door in the innermost and most secret recesses of the soul." - Carl Jung

How We Work with Dreams

Not Fortune Telling But:

• Exploring personal associations

• Noticing patterns/themes

• Finding symbolic meaning

• Connecting to life situations

• Allowing psyche to speak

Key Questions:

• What feelings arise?

• What reminds you of?

• Where in life is this happening?

• What might psyche be showing?

• How does this serve growth?

Dream Work Techniques

Amplification

• Exploring symbol meanings

• Cultural associations

• Mythological parallels

• Personal history

• Collective patterns

Active Imagination

• Continuing dream while awake

• Dialoguing with figures

• Allowing story to unfold

• Discovering resolution

• Bridging conscious/unconscious

Dream Series Work

• Tracking themes over time

• Noticing evolution

• Seeing psyche's direction

• Understanding deeper patterns

• Following individuation process

Common Dream Themes

Being Chased

Possible Meanings:

• Running from shadow aspects

• Avoiding difficult emotions

• Fear of confrontation

• Repressed material emerging

• Need to face something

Depth Approach:

• Who/what chases?

• What if you turned around?

• What wants attention?

• Where in life running?

Death/Dying

Not Literal But:

• Psychological transformation

• Ending of life phase

• Ego death/rebirth

• Letting go needed

• New beginning approaching

Exploring:

• What needs to die?

• What fears arise?

• What comes after?

• Where resisting change?

Houses/Buildings

Often Represent:

• Psyche/self structure

• Different levels of consciousness

• Hidden rooms = unknown aspects

• Condition shows psychological state

• Renovation = inner work

Questions:

• What rooms unexplored?

• What's in basement/attic?

• How does it feel?

• What needs repair?

Depth Psychology in Practice

Different from CBT

CBT:

• Change thoughts

• Modify behaviors

• Present-focused

• Symptom reduction

• Rational approach

Depth:

• Understand meaning

• Honor symptoms

• Past-present connection

• Soul expansion

• Symbolic approach

Both valuable, different purposes.

The Therapeutic Relationship

Transference/Countertransference

• Unconscious dynamics activated

• Past relationships projected

• Therapist reactions matter

• Working through heals

• Relationship as laboratory

My Role:

• Hold space for unconscious

• Track my reactions

• Offer interpretations gently

• Stay curious not certain

• Midwife individuation

Going Deeper

We Might Explore:

• Family constellation patterns

• Cultural complexes

• Mythological themes

• Creative expressions

• Synchronicities

• Body symptoms symbolically

Everything has potential meaning.

When Depth Psychology Helps

Existential Questions

When Wrestling With:

• Life purpose/meaning

• Identity questions

• Spiritual emergence

• Creative blocks

• Midlife transitions

Depth offers framework for soul questions.

Repetitive Patterns

When You Notice:

• Same relationship dynamics

• Recurring life themes

• Generational patterns

• Self-sabotage cycles

• Mysterious attractions/repulsions

Complexes at work need consciousness.

When Symptoms Persist

Despite Treatment:

• Anxiety without clear cause

• Depression as soul calling

• Physical symptoms unexplained

• Dreams intense/recurring

• Feeling "off" but can't explain

Psyche might need deeper listening.

Integration with Other Modalities

Depth + EMDR

Enriched Processing:

• Symbolic understanding first

• EMDR clears trauma

• Integration through meaning

• Dreams show progress

• Wholeness emerges

Depth + Somatic

Embodied Depth Work:

• Body holds unconscious

• Symptoms as symbols

• Movement reveals psyche

• Dreams in tissue

• Somatic active imagination

Depth + DBT

Practical Depth:

• Skills for intense material

• Container for regression

• Balance doing/being

• Honor both needs

• Integration possible

Common Questions

"Is This Psychoanalysis?"

Influenced By But Different:

• Less frequent sessions

• More collaborative

• Includes other modalities

• Shorter-term possible

• Integration focused

Depth-informed, not classical analysis.

"Will This Take Forever?"

Depends on Goals:

• Symptom relief: months

• Pattern understanding: year

• Deep transformation: years

• Individuation: lifetime

We go at your pace and need.

"What If I Don't Dream?"

Everyone Dreams:

• Might not remember

• Can develop recall

• Other material works too

• Symbols everywhere

• Daydreams count

Unconscious speaks many languages.

The Depth Journey

What to Expect

Early Phase:

• Building safety

• Learning language

• Noticing patterns

• Dream attention

• Curiosity growing

Deepening:

• Unconscious activating

• Dreams intensifying

• Patterns clarifying

• Shadow emerging

• Understanding growing

Integration:

• Conscious-unconscious dialogue

• Symptom transformation

• Meaning emerging

• Wholeness developing

• Authentic living

Is Depth Work for You?

Consider If:

• Seeking meaning not just relief

• Curious about inner life

• Open to symbolic thinking

• Ready for deep exploration

• Want lasting transformation

Especially If:

• "There's more to this"

• "What does it mean?"

• "Why does this repeat?"

• "I need to understand"

• "Something's calling me"

The Gift of Depth

Depth psychology offers:

• Meaningful symptom understanding

• Connection to larger story

• Integration of all parts

• Alignment with soul

• Profound transformation

Your symptoms might be psyche's attempt at healing.

Exploring Your Depths

If depth psychology resonates, let's explore:

• Your relationship to unconscious

• Dreams or symbols present

• Patterns seeking attention

• Meaning you're making

• Integration possibilities

The psyche has wisdom, sometimes we just need to learn its language.

Dr. Elissa Hurand PhD - Compassionate Seattle Therapist

Schedule Free 15 Minute Consultation