The Psyche of the Body: A Jungian Approach to Psychosomatics
Common phrases like having a "broken heart" or "cold feet" are examples of how unconscious motivations can be translated into physiological "picture-language". The Role of Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious
The relationship between the mind and the body has long been a subject of debate, often trapped in the Cartesian dualism that views them as separate entities. However, in The Psyche of the Body: A Jungian Approach to Psychosomatics , Denise Gimenez Ramos challenges this split by presenting a model where the psyche and soma (the body) are "two aspects of the living being". This approach moves beyond seeing illness as a purely biological failure and instead treats the body as a symbolic canvas upon which the unconscious speaks. The Body as a Symbolic Expression The Psyche of the Body: A Jungian Approach to P...
A physical ailment can be viewed as an attempt by the Self to make itself known.
To bridge the gap between symptom and meaning, Ramos utilizes active imagination with the body. In this practice, patients focus on the area of physical pain and allow images to emerge, essentially letting the symptom "speak". The Psyche of the Body: A Jungian Approach
The Psyche of the Body: A Jungian Approach to Psychosomatics
Central to Ramos's work is the idea that physical symptoms are not just medical issues but of an individual’s internal conflicts. From a Jungian perspective, the body and psyche are a self-regulating system striving for balance. When consciousness becomes too one-sided—for instance, by repressing vital emotions or needs—the unconscious may manifest this imbalance through the body. This approach moves beyond seeing illness as a
In one instance, a patient’s arthritic knee pain was found through therapy to be a symbolic "stiffening" or defense against external pressures in her marriage. By addressing the underlying psychological complex, the physical symptom can sometimes be relieved or its role in the patient's life better understood. Conclusion Go to product viewer dialog for this item.