Dissociation is a common reaction to trauma. In extreme cases the psyche dissociates from the body entirely, identifying with a disembodied mind. The body may then come to store split-off experiences the psyche fears to face. Reuniting mind and body – one of the aims of individuation – thus entails re-encountering those experiences. Understandably this can give rise to powerful resistances. In this talk Bob Withers will develop ideas touched upon in his previous talk ‘Gender dysphoria, individuation and the Shadow’ and draw on the work of Jung, Winnicott, Kalsched and Ogden to look at some of the obstacles encountered when working with mind body dissociation.
JUNGIAN.DIRECTORY