Exploring the Subconscious Mind with Psychodynamic Therapy and EMDR
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate” -Carl Jung (maybe)
“I am not what has happened to me, I am who I choose to become”- Carl Jung (allegedly)
These two quotes attributed to Carl Jung represent the lens through which I view therapy. Now, there is no general consensus whether he ever said these exact words. Likely people have condensed some of his longer teachings into these quotes. Unfortunately, Carl isn’t around to tell us, but the message remains the same: Becoming the person you want to be takes action.
In the ever-evolving landscape of psychotherapy, practitioners are continuously exploring new approaches and techniques to help clients heal and empower themselves. Two such methodologies - psychodynamic therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - offer distinct yet complementary tools for psychological healing. Their integration can offer a holistic approach to trauma recovery and personal growth.
At the heart of psychodynamic therapy lies the belief that much of our mental life operates outside of conscious awareness, driven by unconscious forces and dynamics. Through exploration of the unconscious mind, clients gain insight into the root causes of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, paving the way for lasting change and personal growth. Psychodynamic therapy often involves exploring early life experiences, attachment patterns, and the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts.
EMDR therapy offers a more structured approach to trauma treatment, focusing on processing distressing memories and resolving lingering symptoms. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones to facilitate the reprocessing of memories. Through a series of guided protocols, clients are able to desensitize and reprocess past experiences, leading to symptom reduction and emotional healing.
Despite their differences, psychodynamic therapy and EMDR share a common goal: to help clients overcome psychological barriers and live more fulfilling lives. When integrated effectively, these two approaches can offer a powerful framework for trauma recovery and personal transformation.
Psychodynamic therapy and EMDR both emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for healing by providing a safe and supportive environment in which to explore innermost thoughts and feelings. I believe this is the most important part of any therapy and what I focus on first.
Additionally, psychodynamic therapy and EMDR share a focus on the role of unconscious processes in shaping behavior and emotional experience. While standard EMDR primarily targets conscious memories of trauma, psychodynamic therapy delves deeper into the unconscious roots of psychological distress, exploring how early life experiences and relational patterns continue to influence clients' lives in the present. By integrating insights from psychodynamic theory into the EMDR process, therapists can help clients uncover and address underlying issues that may be contributing to their symptoms.
By blending these two modalities, I help my clients identify and explore the unconscious programming that has been running their lives, then rewrite it so they can begin living their most authentic life.
Written by: Grace Williamson, LPCC, BCN