archetypal psychotherapy

archetypal psychotherapy

Archetypal psychotherapy is rooted in the notion that humans share a collective unconscious, a vast storehouse of shared memories, universal images, and common roles and experiences. These common elements or patterns, called archetypes, express themselves repeatedly in our lives, pulling us towards wholeness and individuation. Examples of the archetypes include the Hero or Heroine, the Wise Woman, and the Warrior. Archetypal approaches to therapy pay focused attention to dreams, active imagination, synchronicities, creativity, and fantasy. Many people have contributed to the development of archetypal psychotherapy, including James Hillman, Katie Sanford, and Carl Jung.