Shadows of Love in the Psychotherapistʼs Cabinet: Amplification to Archetypal Images as a way of Understanding Clientʼs Existences

Abstract

The article touches upon the problems of interaction of a psychologist (psychotherapist) with figurative symbolic and metaphorical material of clients relating to the theme of love as an existential issue. In particular, the peculiarities of manifestation of the Shadow (according to Jung) aspects of love are considered. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of using the technique of amplification, which contributes to a deeper empathic understanding of intrapsychic conflicts of the client by the psychologist; examples of analyzing real client material from the author's practice are given. Possibilities for further research into the Shadow aspects of love as an existential experience are outlined.