Kyle Ellis LPC

Awakening the Heroes Within by Dr. Carol Pearson is a book that I absolutely treasure. It outlines Jung's theories and goes into great detail regarding the archetypes that represent the various sides of the human experience, i.e. the ruler, the fool, the innocent, etc. After the first few sessions, I like to administer the questionnaire contained at the back of this book which is a great springboard for the work we will do regarding your imminent self-discovery! Who were you? Who are you? Who do you want to be? How do you think others see you? Let's find out together.

My preferred theoretical perspective is based on the work of Carl Jung. Jungian therapy focuses more on the source of a problem than on its manifestations or symptoms. Jung believed that the shadow, an individual’s repressed experiences and memories, in combination with the “collective unconscious,” or the inherent hidden beliefs that everyone in a given society at a given time has, result in an imbalance between conscious awareness and the unconscious mind that has a detrimental effect on one’s emotional life. In analysis, a patient must explore these forces and influences to achieve unity between the conscious and unconscious mind. Success in this endeavor Jung called “individuation,” or wholeness. Jung believed that individuation represents one’s true nature, and that a patient will feel satisfied and complete upon its achievement. If one tries simply to relieve the symptoms, the underlying issues will not be resolved and are bound to resurface, according to Jungian therapy. The success of the treatment depends on the client’s commitment to regularly scheduled sessions and intense work.

• Georgia, Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC008312