Depth psychology


Historically, depth psychology, was coined by Eugen Bleuler to refer to psychoanalytic approaches to therapy and research which take the unconscious into account. The term was rapidly accepted in the year of its proposal by Sigmund Freud, to cover a topographical view of the mind in terms of different psychic systems.
Since the 1970s, Depth psychology has come to refer to the ongoing development of theories and therapies pioneered by Pierre Janet, William James, and Carl Jung as well as Freud. All explore relationships between the conscious and the unconscious.

Summary of primary elements

Depth psychology states the psyche is a process which is:
- partly conscious,
- partly unconscious and
- partly semi-conscious.
In practice, depth psychology seeks to explore underlying motives as an approach to various mental disorder. It believes uncovering of deeper, often unconscious motives is intrinsically healing in and of itself. It seeks the deep layers underlying behavioral and cognitive processes.
In modern times the initial work, development, theories and therapies of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler and Otto Rank have resulted in three main perspectives on depth psychology:

Adlerian view

Jungian views