The Dynamics of Symbols: Fundamentals of Jungian Psychotherapy - Hardcover

Kast, Verena

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0880642009 ISBN 13: 9780880642002

Publisher: Fromm Intl, 1992

Synopsis

According to Carl Jung, the goal of human life is self realization; we have to strive to become whole. Deep down, we are all creative beings, and we have to make use of our creativity to become what we really are. Kast explores Jung's concept of the human being and describes the path to wholeness which, since Jung, is known as the individuation process.
It becomes clear that wholeness is only possible through the interplay between conscious and unconscious. However, the two have different languages: consciousness uses word-logic, whereas the unconscious uses dream-logic. Both languages would be forever foreign to each other, were it not for symbols, which mediate between the two: our unconscious encodes its knowledge in symbols, which we then have to translate into the language of our consciousness. Thus symbols are focal points of psychic development, and it is through them that we can become whole human beings.
Jung taught us the techniques with which we can make the creative core of the unconscious available to consciousness. Kast explains them by using numerous examples from her daily work as a therapist. She shows us how psychological problems can be overcome by working on the symbols in which they express themselves.
In a language that can be readily grasped by the general reader, Kast goes on to explain the basic thought of Jungian psychotherapy, covering the correlation between symbols and complexes, with a special emphasis on the ego-complex; the healing function of the archetypes and how they appear in, and interact with, symbols; and symbols in transference and countertransference, powerful tools in psychotherapy. Kast also discusses the interplay of psychosomatic diseases and symbols.
The Dynamics of Symbols is not only of immediate interest to all psychologists and their patients. It is of direct concern to everyone who has the desire to become a whole human being.

About this title

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

From Library Journal

Kast (psychology, Zurich Univ.) here explains Jung's concept of the individuation process in humanity, which states that the individual's goal is to discover who he or she really is. As Kast explains, "A major part of the process is self acceptance, acceptance not only of all of one's possibilities, but also of one's difficulties; these are essential because to a significant degree they comprise our uniqueness. Accepting one's self, one's possibilities as well as one's difficulties, is a basic virtue that is to be realized in the individuation process." The author presents a clear understanding of Jung's concept of the symbol, the archetype, and the process of self-realization. The work is aimed at informed lay readers, although general readers should have little trouble reaching a basic understanding of Jungian depth psychology.
- James F. Wood Sr., Hillsborough Community Coll. Lib., Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fromm Intl
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0880642009
• ISBN 13: 9780880642002
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 220