Jungian Psychotherapy IV: Active Imagination

This course can be purchased in the Jungian Psychotherapy Certificate Package

Jungian psychology is rich, complex, and infinitely interesting. In addition to archetypes, projection, and depth work, another aspect of this fascinating field is active imagination. Active imagination is
hardly new; our ancestors staring into the fire were exercising just this. Jungian practitioners use dolls, sandtrays, stories, art, and other methods to engage clients’ active imagination. Unlike many other forms of therapy, active imagination comes directly from the client’s unconscious. In art, sandplay, or doll work, the therapist holds the space and allows the client to play and create without analyzing or interpreting. While these areas are primarily Jungian tools, psychotherapists of a wide variety of backgrounds can practice art, doll, or sandplay therapy. And clients of all walks of life and all ages can benefit greatly from connecting with the unconscious through art and play, in a sacred space held by the therapist.

In this intermediate level course, Dr. David Van Nuys interviews seven experts in the field of active imagination. All of the interviews come in audio form, and all include written transcripts. In the first section, Dr. Monika Wikman introduces the listener to the concept of active imagination. In the second section, Dr. Tom Elsner, a former attorney, shares his knowledge of the function and the purpose of fairy tales. This section also includes interviews with Dr. Maria Hess and Dr. Liza Ravitz on Jungian sandplay work. In the third section, Dr. Geri Olson shares her wisdom on doll work and Dr. Suzanne Lovell discusses art therapy. In the fourth section, in our final interview, Dr. Jeff Raff explains ally work. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.

This course is the fourth in a series of five courses on Jungian Psychotherapy with Dr. David Van Nuys. The first course is Understanding the Jungian Worldview, the second course is Exploring Jungian Archetypes, the third course is Jungian Tools and Applications, and the fifth course is Myth, Story, and Synchronicity.