Psychotherapy is not primarily about understanding individual disorders related to the psyche (more on this later), which is rather related to the method and approach of the psychotherapist. It goes beyond such limits, which, however, are necessary to know whether you have found the right specialist.
In fact, psychotherapy is always, as in the literal sense, healing the soul. The question is what this soul is. However, we will not dwell on the translation of words or what this concept could mean in a given period of human history (although this is extremely important).
Let’s ask ourselves basic questions — does the soul exist at all. Well, it seems that it is. Assuming the thesis of polygenetic unconscious processes occurring in various cultural circles, it can be concluded that the psyche is some form of collective consciousness that probably appeared at a similar time in various unrelated cultural traditions (we also do not know for sure, let’s treat it as a certain assumption for discussion). This construct has survived in various forms to this day, especially at the level of individual consciousness.
So, in short, it can be a form of consciousness related to other mental processes that have arisen as a result of reaching some level of human development on a physiological, biological, mental and, above all, social level.
What is the working definition of the soul? For example, recognizing,. that it is an individual internal construct that creates the basis for the possibility of self-observation and self-evaluation. He also strives for some new form of development, recognized in himself during the course of life.
It can also be said that the psyche allows us to experience the meaning of life and our own goals, which do not always seem externally coherent. Disturbances in this area can be realized through long-term mental or emotional disorders, preventing full functioning.
Contrary to appearances, the psyche is cruel, unfulfilled can disrupt functioning in every possible area of life. Survival — I feel that I have done something wrong and it stops me from reaching the potential that only the psyche understands, and I, as an individual, begin to suffer.
Recent years of research in neurophysiology and neurology have cast some doubt on the existence of free will (it’s about how quickly we make decisions, between automatism and conscious choice).
Unfortunately, this discussion also has a religious and even spiritual dimension, hence it is difficult to find good grounds for understanding this problem. The problem is that, to generalize, mental health also assumes the realization of one’s consciousness also on a religious and spiritual level, outside of family life, relationships, building bonds, a sense of security, material balance and optimizing the quality of one’s life.
Something happened on a neurological, biological, and evolutionary level that we discovered spirituality and some spiritual or religious consciousness that united social bonds and created culture.
Can we talk about fiction if many people experience religiosity or spirituality personally without external stimulation, such as psychostimulants? Therefore, the issue of psyche is controversial even among psychologists, because it has connotations much deeper and more controversial than we would like, which does not allow us to talk about it as a science or a scientifically confirmed treatment.
If something spiritual appears in the background, it begins to lose its scientific value (although not always, in psychology there is also an area for discussion and research of these issues, it is created by the psychology of spirituality or the psychology of religion), because it begins to take on a dimension that is difficult to talk about from the perspective of a researcher, and therefore we have to be very careful here.
I suggest using a backup in the form of Plato and his metaphor of the cave. Let’s treat the psyche as an idea, let’s tentatively assume that it exists. If something exists in an ideal world, it has some confirmation in reality.
An idea is not an archetype or a value, but rather an external reference point that can be internalized. By going to psychotherapy, we want to avoid suffering, illness, get rid of dysfunction without really knowing our true selves. This is what psychotherapy is for: recognizing the psyche through the ego.
The ego is more real/tangible because it is realized on a simpler level through boundaries and their expression. So, to make a long story short about psychotherapy — in order to heal the psyche, you need to get to know and accept yourself well, set strong boundaries and check whether you realize yourself in your own life enough to feel fulfilled and as calm as possible.
Certainly, an important point of reference for mental health is the ability to love, which gives strength and builds self-development potential in this dimension as well. How this can be realized on an individual or social level is a matter to be recognized for yourself, also during psychotherapy.
Is there a hidden egoism here, which is so often feared by people who come to psychotherapy? From a psyche perspective, no. You have to recognize for yourself what is right and what is wrong. Psychotherapy may no longer answer this. This will be important for ego building (finding one’s own moral structure).
Why should we be afraid of psychotherapy? Because it can really affect many social relationships, which nowadays have their own dimension (needs). If someone expects the other person in a relationship to be focused only on meeting expectations, they annihilate that person already at the ego level.
Who we are dealing with is an emanation of his or her individuality, which is a form of expression that has not been fully realized. Since there are no boundaries, the psyche must be dissociated. And since it is cruel, it will start to be destructive.
What can love be the basis for a relationship? Maybe on the possibility of joint realization of personal psyche with respect for borders? So that it would best suit this perspective. Is love where we annihilate ourselves at the ego level? Maybe this is selfishness?
Is the psyche transgenerational? I think so, perhaps that is why in systemic psychotherapy we talk about family myths, and in psychogenealogy about the transmission and reproduction of certain stories in subsequent generations. Maybe it is also necessary to heal the family, cultural and social message.
How cruel can a psyche be? Well, it leads to suffering until it finds solace for it. We have a chance to observe this every day and look for answers.
It seems, therefore, that the psyche can be a social construct that is realized at various levels in a person’s life. It is difficult to deny its existence. It is not known whether it can be left in the hope that it will leave us alone. As a psychotherapist and researcher, I have not encountered any such ruthless construct.
I cordially invite you
Paulina Kubś, MA
Interventional Systemic and Cultural Psychotherapy Clinic.
(1) Venice May – Limerence [Official Video] – YouTube
Lyrics:
Limerence Venice May
Your love is violent Your love is like a fired gun Heavy and silent, so silent Before what it’s done I know I cannot stay here any longer I knew long ago It’s over, still I’m waiting like a soldier For the final blow
Hold you, let me Hold you, let me Hold you, let me Hold you, let me
What lovers, what lovers we were What lovers we were when there were carpets of grass Then something shattered and it all went so awry We couldn’t make it a mile for all the pieces of glass
There’s nothing for me out there Nothing, not even the sun The moment I step out the door And look up to the sky it’s gone Sometimes a light gets through And I remember how it was before Like there was something else ahead I can’t quite make out anymore
Hold you, let me Hold you, let me Hold you, let me Hold you, let me
Dead, it’s dead, it’s dead, it’s dead It’s not dying anymore The roots of our land never grow The seasons don’t pass by our window
Say it, say it, say it Say it aloud, we’re nevermore Together let’s each put on a glove And bury the bones of our dead love
What lovers we were when there were carpets of grass, Carpets of grass
Limerence Venice May
