The holiday season often stirs up complex emotions, especially for those who find it hard to align their experiences with the cheerful imagery of togetherness and joy. From a psychodynamic perspective, this time of year can bring long-buried feelings to the surface. The pressure to connect with family or meet societal expectations of holiday cheer […]
As we approach the festive holiday season, we understand that the joy and excitement of the holidays can sometimes bring along a challenge—sleep deprivation. The stress that comes with the hustle and bustle, coupled with changes in routine and increased social activities, can disrupt our sleep patterns and if you suffer from sleep issues […]
The connection between giftedness and mental illness has long intrigued researchers, educators, and psychologists alike. While gifted individuals often exhibit extraordinary talents and intellectual abilities, they may also face unique emotional and psychological challenges. This duality can lead to a complex interplay between exceptional abilities and mental health struggles. In this article, we’ll delve into […]
Dreams have long fascinated thinkers and psychologists, leading to various theories about their purpose and significance. Some view them as random brain activity, while others, such as Sigmund Freud, believe they reveal repressed desires. Carl Jung, however, took a different perspective. He considered dreams to be a crucial link to the unconscious mind, offering vital […]
Daily Emotional Check-Ins In everyday life, it’s easy to overlook our emotions, brushing them aside in favor of productivity or immediate concerns. But our emotional well-being impacts everything—our relationships, decisions, and overall quality of life. Taking just a few moments each day for emotional check-ins can revolutionize how we understand and manage our feelings, leading […]
Breaking Free from Old Programming: The Power of Pattern Interrupts Sometimes people struggle to break free from repetitive patterns that no longer serve them. Whether it’s a destructive thought loop, self-sabotaging behavior, or an emotional response that feels automatic, these patterns are often remnants of old programming. They are habits rooted in past experiences and […]
Have you ever felt like you’re carrying an invisible weight every day? Maybe anxiety sneaks up on you, or waves of sadness wash over you without warning. Perhaps there are days when physical pain seems to come out of nowhere, leaving you feeling drained and overwhelmed. These are all natural responses to trauma, and if […]
Carl Jung viewed ‘neurosis,’ particularly anxiety, not merely as an illness but as an attempt by the psyche to heal itself. He compared it to the function of dreams, a mechanism through which the self-regulating mind tries to restore balance, often forcefully or drastically. Unlike modern approaches that emphasize symptom relief, Jung saw ‘neurosis’ as […]
At Dorfen Health Services, I specialize in helping couples uncover the deeper truths beneath their relationship struggles. Too often, couples find themselves stuck in repetitive arguments, miscommunication, or growing emotional distance. The key to breaking these cycles? Real and honest conversations in a safe and supportive environment. Couples therapy is not about assigning blame—it’s about […]
Active imagination, a technique developed by Carl Jung, serves as a core method in analytical psychology for engaging with the unconscious. Jung viewed it as a pathway to achieving personal wholeness by unlocking latent aspects of the psyche. Unlike dreams, where the unconscious communicates in a passive, unidirectional way, active imagination allows the conscious mind […]
