Therapy

"Noble be man,
Helpful and good!
For that alone
Sets him apart
From every other creature
On earth"
                       Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

As a trainee at C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago, Czech Association of Analytical Psychology in Brno, Charles University in Prague, and University of Jyvaskyla in Finland my approach utilizes many psychotherapeutic techniques and theoretical frames. Charles University is one of the world's oldest and best universities; was founded by The Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in the 13th century. Tradition which I am bringing from Czech Republic, by the way, birthplace of Sigmund Freud or Edmund Husserl  among others has a lot to offer to American clients. Slovakia, my home country "and other countries where I lived - gave me perspective which will always be with me; I find it especially now, when living and practicing in United States, very enriching, since it allows me to look at things not only from inside, but also from 'outside', from the point beyond particular cultural and psychological experience.  

Being trainee of Jungian Institute I am fortunate to receive supervision and professional critique of my work from some of the best therapists in U.S. I believe this is reflected in my practice and therefore huge advantage for my clients.

As practicing professional I have never stopped educating myself, what leads me closer to understanding what psychotherapy means for me. As I grow older, the more beauty I discover in psychology and psychotherapy. "Psychology" for me is not only my job, but a way of being. I was able to understand that I live in constant marvel, since I will never be able to "know" what psyche is. The object of its observation is often the subject itself, and for this very reason nobody will ever have the privilege to call psychology a pure science. Thus we are unable to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps; psychotherapy would have to remain at the same time an art. That is the charm what attracts me to psychotherapy so much. Psyche for me is not only "unknowable" but also the deepest abyss where all mysteries of existence dwell. It is life per se, a source of healing powers.
Even though we will never be able to "know" psyche as such, it doesn't mean that we do not have a duty to attempt to know what we can. Ego being just a small island in the infinite ocean, stands in front of life-long task: to understand language of its Great Mother - Unconscious - which talks to "it" if it is to make a progress in its growth. We can say that opening one's ears to her whisper corresponds to healing process. Only through the dialogue a harmony can be established. When providing therapy to my clients I do keep this - as most important premise - in my mind.
    
And how do I work? Unfortunately the way I work cannot be explained by words it could only be experienced. There is nothing extraordinary about it; situation between the therapist and client is unique and individual as characteristic for every human relationship, the difference is that this time continuing light of consciousness is required. From this understanding "help" is literally created out of responsible and conscious work. But the healing itself always comes from deep innate core of our personality called the Self.

I believe there is natural self-healing tendency in our psyche. Techniques I use are designed to promote this instinct. As body is endowed with immunity system, the psyche has inherited equlibrium-seeking mechanism in itself. Will has only relative power, but it can certainly be efficient in opening the door through which healing can enter. Psychotherapy is is the Work od unlocking and opening these doors.
Psychotherapy is a kind of detective work. It can take some time and patient work before core of the problem is detected. To do this I often use dream analysis, (or dream interpretation) psychoanalysis, relaxing and imaginative techniques as active imagination. I also use feeling, intuition, perception and thinking. I am highly influenced by teaching of C. G. Jung and practically and theoretically I follow tradition he founded: school of analytical psychology. At the C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago I am being prepared to become a Licensed Jungian Analyst. Analysis (if done properly then accomplished by final synthesis) is therefore key word of my work.
You might have a dream the night before we meet, or you have dreamt a dream which you feel is important and somehow related to the question you're coming here with - please remember it.

I'd like to stress here, that not always deep and long therapeutic work is needed, sometimes problems can be dealt be short-term goal oriented therapy or by consultation. It all depends, as I said, on client's unique needs.
My approach can be easily called integrative, oriented towards promoting wholeness. Not perfectness though, because there is level of imperfectness man has to accept and consciously realize in order to be healthy: whole.
As therapist I utilize three aspects of the profession suggested by Edward F. Edinger: physician-healer, philosopher-scientist and priest-hierophant. This means trying to help promote client's understanding in his own thirst for healing, knowledge seeking and  spiritualdimension of his psyche. Obstacles life places in front of us require coping by means of one or all of these modes. I view these three aspect, or psyche-elements, as necessary if balance in the life is to be long lasting.

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