Depth Therapy

Depth therapy, or depth psychology, refers to therapeutic approaches that take the unconscious into account. It is an interdisciplinary approach and therapists that practice depth therapy believe that everyone has traits they may not be aware of that influence their emotions, decisions, work, and life. The unconscious influence that these traits have may be negative, and depth therapy helps individuals better recognize these subconscious forces at work, so that they might better understand their present situation. A therapist specializing in depth therapy will work to help you gain more self-awareness in order to further develop positive traits and cope with the negatives. Think this approach may be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s depth therapy experts today!

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Meet the specialists

 

Throughout grad school and since, I have studied Depth Psychology. In particular, the work of Carl Jung. I also have experience as a client of Jungian analysis. I am fascinated with how engaging with unconscious content can help us learn so much about ourselves at a deep level, and through that help us find meaning and bring about transformation.

— Brent Harrison, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in LOS GATOS, CA

In addition to psychodynamic theory, I also drawn on neuroscience, consciousness studies, spiritual traditions, and attachment theory to inform my depth-oriented approach.

— Michael Marossy, Clinical Psychologist in Pasadena, CA
 

I attended Pacifica Graduate Institute, a renowned school for Depth Psychology. My practice focuses on attending to your underlying core beliefs that are keeping you stuck in painful patterns.

— Grace Porter, Counselor in ,

Within psychodynamic approaches, depth and Jungian orientations offer a creative view of the human psyche. The presence of story, imagination, dream-tending, art, expression, association, intuition, and the numinous are appreciated within the therapeutic relationship. These elements help to reveal unconscious material, personal, and collective complexes that are influencing one’s life and relationships.

— Rebecca Bruno, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Pasadena, CA
 

I integrate depth therapy by exploring the unconscious layers of your experience. I believe that beneath our surface behaviors and thoughts lie deeper, often hidden, emotions, memories, and beliefs that shape who we are. Together, we delve into these depths, uncovering the root causes of your struggles. Through this process, we bring to light and integrate these hidden parts, fostering healing and a more profound understanding of yourself.

— Amanda Evans, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Seattle, WA

Depth therapy, also known as depth psychology or depth psychotherapy, refers to therapeutic approaches that explore unconscious processes and dynamics within an individual's psyche. Unlike more structured and focused therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), depth therapy seeks to uncover and understand underlying, often unconscious, motivations, conflicts, and patterns that may influence a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

— Roderic Burks, MS, MS H.Sc., MA, LPC - Integrative Psychotherapy, Licensed Professional Counselor in Denver, CO
 

Many forms of therapy are like placing a Band-Aid over an untreated wound. Depth-oriented therapy helps you go beneath the surface. Diving deep in therapy allows you to get to the root of the issues and problems you're facing so that you can free yourself up to live a more rich and meaningful life.

— Julia Lehrman, Psychotherapist in San Francisco, CA

Depth oriented therapy includes exploration of unconscious as well as conscious thoughts/feelings. Unconscious processes are often responsible for obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors and for persistent or repetitive patterns in thoughts, feelings, and relationships. Focusing treatment on the unconscious can yield longer-lasting and ongoing improvement versus focusing on symptoms alone.

— Liz Fletcher, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oklahoma City, OK
 

I am a depth therapist. I didn't know this when I first became a therapist but soon found that my tendency to bring into the room deeper ways of knowing, ways of feeling, deeper ways of being ourselves. I ran to learn then about Psychoanalytic therapies, dream work therapies and any therapy that expanded the meaning of our lives both as we live in the body and through self/life stories. I bring my learning and natural pull into depth into my work now. Therapy with me will make more vibrant your

— Erik Johnston, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Overland Park, KS

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – C. G. Jung. Depth therapy honors both our inner and outer life, and views symptoms not as ‘problems,’ but as the voice of our soul speaking out. In therapy, we will enter on a collaborative and creative journey to explore and integrate the unconscious and conscious aspects of your experience, and help you find meaning, Self-understanding, and greater freedom in all aspects of your life.

— Michelle Sargent, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Encino, CA
 

Depth therapy encompasses several different schools emerging from psychoanalytic and branching out into psychodynamic, object relations, relational and many others. I would say that while this therapy is fairly heavy in theory, the overall impact is a deepening of the patient/therapist relationship, with the emphasis placed on therapist stepping into the client's emotional experience with them safely and respectfully.

— April Watson, Psychotherapist

Although I am not a trained Jungian Analyst, I am inspired by the works of Jung in his ability to find what I would call the true self. I think that honoring the subtle, mysterious aspects of consciousness can create a deep and meaningful bond between the clinician and client. I can explore the way your life experiences have paved identity formation. I work with clients to fill out the nuances of their life story, and explore themselves in unique ways they have not explored thus far.

— Caitlin Miller, Counselor in Chicago, IL
 

Throughout grad school and since I have been deeply engaged with the unconscious. I studied Depth psychology and particularly Carl Jung for many years. I have also been a client of Depth therapy off and on for many years. I am fascinated with how developing engagement with unconscious content can teach us so much about our lives and through that help us find meaning and transform us.

— Brent Harrison, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in LOS GATOS, CA

We can work together on your dreams and your self-expression through art work, poetry, creative writing, etc., to help gain insight into the patterns being played out in your life. I completed my Ph.D. in Depth Psychology with an emphasis in depth psychotherapy from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2018.

— Kristen Hornung, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Encinitas, CA
 

In addition to psychodynamic theory, I also draw on insights from neuroscience, consciousness studies, spiritual traditions, and attachment research to inform my depth-oriented approach.

— Michael Marossy, Clinical Psychologist in Pasadena, CA

The type of psychotherapy I practice explores in-depth processing of difficult emotional and relational experiences. The ultimate goal is to achieve long lasting change and relief so you can move forward in a way that is right for you.

— Jennifer Jackson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oakland, CA
 

We like to think we know everything, but doing this work it's become apparent there's a lot more going on than we can see. Beneath our everyday lives, there's a vibrant world of hidden thoughts, feelings, images and sensations, all acting on us in ways we don't realize. So when we look at personal transformation, it's not just about solving problems and becoming a better person, but learning about and respecting the great forces that are always working below our awareness.

— Jesse Cardin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in San Antonio, TX

Through the study of dreams, images, symptoms, slips of the tongue, spontaneous humor, coincidences & interpersonal engagements. This work attempts to help individuals become aware of what has been cast out of consciousness or not yet able to be known. Healing is associated with allowing what has been repressed, rejected, denied or ignored to come forward so that the person can understand, explore & integrate it, allowing for a transformation in consciousness.

— Jerry Moreau, Marriage & Family Therapist in San Diego, CA
 

Contemporary depth therapy focuses on the value of linking the conscious self with what is shut out of conscious awareness, i.e. the unconscious self. This approach also called “psychodynamic” or “psychoanalytic” can be applied to helping to explore and resolve childhood and intergenerational socio-cultural trauma, as well as access hidden strengths. The unconscious world can be explored through night dreams, memories, symptoms, and repeating patterns in relationships, as well as creativity.

— Matthew Silverstein, Clinical Psychologist