APPROACH TO TREATMENT

- Depth Psychology
- Mind-Body Health

Depth Psychology

Depth psychology has its origins in the pioneering work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, who posited the idea that conscious and unconscious thoughts, feelings, memories, fantasies, and impulses co-exist in the mind, and that the unconscious aspects influence behavior and experience. Each of us can recount incidents in which an outward expression ran counter to an inner intent or desire. Expressions such as "it just came out of my mouth" or "I wasn't myself" or "I don't know why I did that" convey the power of the unconscious mind to overtake conscious thought and action - as though we are seized by an aspect of ourselves of which we are unaware. Depth psychology views instances like these as cues that the psyche is somehow out of balance. We may be aware that we are behaving in particular ways, but unaware as to why. We may be aware that we are feeling certain powerful emotions, but unaware of the source of these emotions, and so unable to articulate or cope with them effectively.

From this perspective, psychological symptoms are seen as important communications from the deep layers of the mind. The darkness or despair of depression, the gnawing of an obsessive thought, the compulsion to eat, drink, cut, clean or count, the constant worry of anxiety - these are signs of internal conflict or suffering, and they warrant thoughtful attention.

But it isn't necessary to have a specific problem to find depth psychotherapy useful and beneficial. It is, fundamentally, a process through which we can better understand ourselves and our relationships, the truest and most integral parts. With understanding comes possibility for choice and change - the psychological grounding to move beyond a life of just getting by, to one in which we can thrive.

Other terms used to describe depth psychology include psychoanalytic psychology and psychodynamic psychology. Find out more about depth psychology here.

Mind-Body Health

The mind-body health perspective assumes a powerful connection between emotional and physical well-being. Mental states like panic attacks, chronic anxiety and depression are known to have destructive effects on our physiology. Body-centered ailments like sleep disorders, eating disorders, sexual dysfunctions, and chronic pain are known to be strongly related to the workings of the mind. Women's health issues, in particular, are a focus of mind-body healthcare insofar as they involve highly sensitive biological systems that react to anxiety and stress. For this reason the mind-body approach has become vital in the treatment of infertility, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and other disorders related to reproduction.

The mind-body health approach aims to harmonize with other modes of healthcare treatment in order to move toward a higher level of wellness than any single mode of treatment might provide. Common mind-body practices include meditation, guided imagery and breathwork. But beyond the use of specific techniques, the mind-body approach may be understood as an attitude that views growth and healing in terms of the connection between tangible and less tangible aspects of the self. Depth psychotherapy--which is centrally concerned with understanding the relationship between the tangible and intangible, the conscious and unconscious components of self experience--fits easily with the mind-body model, and may help to enliven the mental-physical connection.