Over the years through trial, error and observation of hundreds of patients, along with my own wellness journey. I have concluded that SE is influenced by the best of parts of work by psycho-juggernauts Freud and Jung. Particularly through their ideas on the unconscious and the body’s role in psychological processes. For those who have studied the origins of psychotherapy I will explain SE with reference to Freudian and Jungian psychology below.
Here’s how their work connects to SE:
Freud’s Repressed Memories and the Unconscious Mind:
Freud’s exploration of the unconscious mind absolutely laid the groundwork for understanding how unresolved trauma and emotional conflicts are stored outside of conscious awareness. In SE, trauma is often “stuck” in the body and nervous system, operating outside of conscious awareness. Freud’s focus on repressed memories as emotional experiences that are buried in the unconscious because “they are too painful”, aligns with SE’s notion that trauma isn’t always fully processed by the mind. But instead manifests in bodily sensations and physical symptoms. SE builds on Freud’s work by recognising that not all trauma can be resolved through verbal exploration alone; the body must also be addressed.
Jung’s Collective Unconscious and Shadow Work:
Jung’s work, especially his focus on the collective unconscious and the role of symbols and archetypes, influenced the way SE therapists approach the body-mind connection. Jung believed that the psyche was deeply interconnected with the body, and that unresolved conflicts could manifest physically, as disease. This imparts into the Naturo Method philosophy and is the reason why quantum coaching, alongside Naturo therapy is effective. Jung also emphasised the importance of shadow work. Simply put exploring parts of the self that are hidden or rejected. Which ties into SE’s exploration of physical and emotional responses that lie beneath conscious awareness.
Both Freud and Jung acknowledged that trauma can be deeply buried in the unconscious mind and body, concepts central to SE’s goal of accessing and resolving these deep-seated patterns. What’s really cool is that SE expands on these ideas by using the body as a direct pathway to work with the unconscious mind.
