Jungian Psychology in Coaching
The early 20th century psychologist, Carl Jung, is responsible for many common concepts today, such as archetypes, the unconscious, complexes, and the Myer's Brigg's Type Indicator. We can use our understanding of these concepts in coaching to enable the client to create a better relationship with themselves and others.
Standard Coaching
Relies on a goal
Coach asks powerful questions that make you say, "Hmmm..."​
Coach helps the client by dialoguing with them
Jungian Coaching
Relies on a goal
Client dialogues with unconscious self and asks themself the questions
Coach acts as a referee in the self dialogue
What you might experience in each modality:
When a coach uses standard coaching, they have tools that involve asking the client to view their dilemma from multiple angles. Coaches are trained to ask powerful questions: questions that are not easy or straightforward to answer, but require deep thought. The client must dig deep and be creative to answer these questions, and in some cases, there is no answer. Either way, the setup brings insights for the client.​
In Jungian Coaching, the coach uses tools to put the client in touch with their own unconscious self in order to seek answers from it. The principle is that the Self is wise and capable of providing these answers, and often, this Self is the cause or originator of the dilemma in the first place. Dialoguing with that Self (instead of the Coach) can produce the insights necessary to meet the coaching goal.
Example Coaching Tools
Perspectives Coaching
Coaching for Emotion
Values Coaching
Coaching Wheel
Powerful Questions
Jungian Coaching Tools
Symbolic Thinking
Masculine / Feminine Perspectives
Hero's Journey
Leadership Archetypes
Shadow Work
Jungian Alchemy
Common Practices for Both
1) Active Listening
Both Jungian and Standard coaching rely on the coach listening actively to the client on multiple levels.
2) Ethics and Confidentiality
Whether the client chooses Standard or Jungian coaching, both modalities are practices under the ethical standards of the International Coaching Federation. This includes strict confidentiality.
3) Mindfulness and Accountability
In either modality, a coach shows up with a coaching mindset and is accountable for their actions. The responsibility is on them to keep the relationship co-equal between the coach and the client. The client sets the agenda.
On a personal note:
In my coaching practice, I use a combination of both coaching modalities. When I am asking the client questions, we are in standard coaching. Whenever the client is dialoguing with themselves and I am acting as referee, we are in Jungian coaching mode. Generally, my sessions flip back and forth between these, depending on the needs and mood of the client. There is also a certain level of trust to be reached before diving into deep Jungian work, and that can sometimes require a few sessions. No one is forced to do anything they do not want to do. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) in the International Coaching Federation, I am bound by their ethical standards and practices.