[sittingatwatersedge]

when I talked to T today I asked her if she'd read a book called "Owning your Own Shadow", about the "shadow aspect" as described by Carl Jung. I told her that I thought i would read it and to my surprise she said, I will also get a copy and read it before I see you again (this is a first for us I must say)

Wondering, has anyone read this book? Did you find it useful?

[searchingmysoul]

Hey Sitting!

Interestingly my T has her training in "depth psychology" ie; she is a jungian devotee. My couple's T is also a jungian therapist also. They are both very into the "shadow side" of things, the unconcious, owning our dark side talking about what it is that we most want to keep hidden...All that stuff. I have not read much jungian literature though. I'd be interested to know what you think about it, if you would recommend it.

It is a nice thing though, reading a book with T...I had a book that I was reading that I was into and told my T about it, she ended up reading it and we have talked about it on and off quite a bit. I think it was helpful for her to read something I was interested in and really liked.

~Searching

[Mouse_]

Yes I have read that book and similar in the past...I think books appear when we're ready for them...but I think one of the most useful books I've read is "Necessary Losses" By Judith Viorist, it actually spoke to the underlying pains.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by Mouse_

Yes I have read that book and similar in the past...I think books appear when we're ready for them...but I think one of the most useful books I've read is "Necessary Losses" By Judith Viorist, it actually spoke to the underlying pains.

Mouse!
I have loved Judith Viorst since the 70's when she wrote about her little son - "Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day" I keep a copy at work to lend out
Until last fall I never knew she had written anything in the field of psychology per se but was delighted to run across "Necessary Losses" - it was excellent IMO also. She has a very readable style.

[cai23]

Sitting, I used to read "Alexander and The Terrible No Good Very Bad Day" all the time,to my daughter, it was one of our favorites. I think I've read it so many times I have it memorized

[chaotic13]

I've never read the book. When I read your post I was just moved by the fact that your T spontaneously jumped at the chance to share this book(interest) with you. SAWE...Your share just triggered a positive flood in my own head.

Thanks!

It's probably off topic, but I'll share my mini flood.

In Jan out of the blue I attended a local art exhibit. Although I've suddenly started nurturing my own creativity, me going to an exhibit--well is totally unusual for me.Something deep inside of me... just compelled me to go -- so I listened and went. While there I was completely moved by the works displayed--again, I've never experienced anything like it in my dull, numb life. As I left I was kind of feeling supercharged (a bit like what happened to me this week). I had to release this energy some how...so the thumbs started banging out a 2 sentence email to T. Afterwards, I wondered...Why the heck did I do that? I concluded that I must have just wanted her to know how I reacted to the subject matter displayed, because it REALLY symbolized some of the emotions I was feeling. In our next session we talked about the exhibit, but it wasn't all that exciting.

I didn't realize it until this post, what was really behind my art exhibit email. I think deep down I wanted her to go to the exhibit and experience what I experienced. When she didn't...the excitement in talking about it was lost.

This is really something interesting to know about myself. I do really want people to know and share experiences with the authentic me.She is not content locked inside for only me to connect with. She is wanting out in the world.

SAWE, I see your T's actions here as an indication of a genuine connection....not just some therapeutic psychological technique she was using to get you to talk.Or she just wants to read the book :-) Either way it will be nice to have something to talk about.

[peaches100]

Sitting,

I've never read the Jung book, but I'm pretty sure that Jung's work led to research into personality type, and that led to the writing of several books on the 16 basic personality types (Myers-Briggs/Kiersey stuff). I've found that very interesting. I took the personality test and am an INFJ -- the rarest personality type there is (1% of the population). That must be part of the reason I feel so different from others.

I think it's GREAT that your t jumped at the chance to read and discuss a book with you. WOW! Your t is definitely willing to put more effort into your healing than just the normal 50-minute hour.

Chaos,

I think you brought up a great topic that would make a good thread on its own: wanting our t's to actually share our internal emotional experiences. Maybe we should start a thread on that?

[peaches100]

Oh, sorry Sitting, I reread your post and realize that the book you are talking about was not written by Jung, but it discusses the shadow aspect Jung had originally talked about. I misunderstood.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by chaotic13

When I read your post I was just moved by the fact that your T spontaneously jumped at the chance to share this book(interest) with you........ I see your T's actions here as an indication of a genuine connection....not just some therapeutic psychological technique she was using to get you to talk.Or she just wants to read the book :-) Either way it will be nice to have something to talk about.

I love T, she's great. Also, she knows I have a LOT of problems with things that have been forced down and not allowed to exist (i think i mentioned before, there's at least one area that has a high fence around it topped with barbed wire and with big signs posted, KEEP OUT THIS MEANS YOU.... Whatever she can do to get inside there has got to be helpful. I agree, but I've lost the keys to the gate).

T said yesterday that Carl Jung is currently "out of fashion" ,what ever that means, (so is Freud she said once); all I know is that Jung seemed to value the spiritual element in the human being and not just the physical and scientific stuff, so I'm interested to see what he has to say on this topic at least.