Jung in the World | When Psychotherapy Goes Online: The Hidden Virtues of Virtual Therapy with Gus Cwik
Jan 18, 2024
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Gus Cwik, a Jungian analyst, discusses the benefits and limitations of virtual therapy. They explore the idea of the virtual container in psychoanalysis and how it impacts the therapeutic experience. They also explore the potential of technology to enhance the therapy process and its influence on our individual and collective development.
Teletherapy allows for connections to be made regardless of distance, opening up possibilities for reaching out to experts in a particular field or receiving support from a distance.
The virtual medium in teletherapy fosters a sense of safety and allows for deeper explorations, creating a dreamlike quality that enhances the psychological work being done.
Deep dives
The Advantages of Teletherapy: A Different Approach
Gus Zwick, a clinical psychologist and Jungian analyst, discusses the benefits of teletherapy and how it differs from in-person therapy. He argues that teletherapy should not be seen as a weaker alternative, but rather a unique medium for communication. While traditional therapy relies on the physical presence of both parties, teletherapy allows for connections to be made regardless of distance. Zwick emphasizes that teletherapy opens up possibilities for reaching out to experts in a particular field or receiving support from a distance. He also highlights the importance of the mind-body connection in the virtual space, where the imagination plays a significant role. Zwick suggests that the electronic medium can create a dreamlike quality, enhancing the psychological work being done. He concludes that a hybrid model, combining both in-person and teletherapy sessions, may offer the best of both worlds in terms of deepening the therapeutic process.
The Container and Field of Telecommunications
Zwick explores the concept of the container and field in the context of teletherapy. He references the work of Jung and discusses how the traditional frame of therapy has evolved over time. From the rigid structure of in-person sessions to a more flexible and co-created container in teletherapy. Zwick argues that the symbolic nature of the container, created through technological mediation, can enhance the therapeutic experience. He suggests that the telecommunication medium itself becomes an integral part of the therapeutic process, fostering a sense of safety and allowing for deeper explorations. Zwick also acknowledges the limitations of teletherapy, such as the absence of physical presence, but emphasizes the advantages, particularly in terms of reaching a broader audience and facilitating connections at a distance.
The Mind-Body Connection in the Virtual Space
Zwick delves into the mind-body connection in the virtual realm. He highlights the subtle body, a concept rooted in Jungian psychology, which refers to the imaginative self that responds with genuine emotions and reactions. Zwick observes that the virtual medium can elicit deep emotional engagement, allowing individuals to explore difficult topics and express themselves in ways they might not feel comfortable doing in-person. He stresses that virtual sessions require therapists to be more attentive and tuned into the subtle cues of the body, such as facial expressions and gestures, to understand the client's experience. Zwick also notes the role of the technology in creating a dreamlike quality that further enhances the depth of the therapeutic work.
Quantum Interactions and Unpredictability in Teletherapy
Zwick examines the idea of quantum interactions and unpredictability in the context of teletherapy. He playfully incorporates the notion of quantum physics to challenge the negative perceptions of technology in therapy. Zwick suggests that teletherapy opens up a field of possibilities, allowing for acausal connections and synchronicities to occur. He shares examples of how technological glitches or interruptions can actually deepen the therapeutic process by bringing attention to significant moments or emotions. Zwick encourages therapists to embrace the unpredictability of the virtual medium and view it as a tool that can facilitate imagination and psychological work. He concludes that the spirit of the times and the depths can coexist, and that finding the depths in the spirit of the times is essential for forward-thinking therapy.
Patricia Martin talks with Jungian analyst Gus Cwik, PsyD, Jungian analyst, about the upside of virtual therapy and what we need to know about its strengths and limitations. August Cwik, PsyD is a clinical psychologist, hypnotherapist and senior diplomate Jungian analyst in private practice in the Chicago area. After studying Chemistry as an undergraduate, he entered […]
