Akke-Jeanne Klerk

Introduction to Jungian Psychology

What is Jungian Psychology? 

Carl Jung’s psychology is about living an authentic life and ‘becoming who you truly are’.

Throughout our lives we learn about ourselves and our true nature. We continuously learn new things about ourselves and what it means to be human. We learn about ourselves not only by paying attention to what wants to emerge in the present, but also by looking back. Looking back on our life path so far, we might see that in certain situations we were driven by forces outside our awareness. Maybe we were driven by fear, or by an unconscious wish to prove something to our parents or to protect ourselves from pain and suffering. In other situations, we see that our life magically unfolded in a way as if we were being guided through the plots of our own life stories.

Carl Jung said that it is up to us to live our life in line with our true essence, our unique core that continues to unfold as we age. This essence is often experienced as if it is guiding us through life and is aiming at full expression. At times it can even feel as if we are being used by something larger that wants to engage with the world through our own body and movements. Jung called this process of personal development and unfolding the individuation process.

the persona in jungian psychology

Early on in life we adapt to the demands of our surroundings, our parents, teachers and later our peers. We develop a ‘persona’, the mask we wear to go through life. We only show certain parts of ourselves to others. As we age, we come to see that those adaptive behaviors which may have served us well are also limiting us. Sometimes the main obstacle to our natural growth is the person we’ve become through all our adaptations.

For example, we may have learned at an early age to adapt to other people’s wishes, and so we are focused on making other people happy. This social strategy pays off as we notice that we’ve been accepted, and we feel secure because we belong. With this learned social behavior it’s easy to go to new places, people will like us, friends and colleagues will find us ‘easy’ to be with. But over time, something inside of us starts to object to this one-sided way of showing up in the world in which the other is the central figure. Something inside of us longs for a fuller expression of our own voice, feelings and views. In this example, our psyche wants us to be nice not only to others but also to ourselves. Putting our own needs or views in the foreground might require us to develop skills that we haven’t used before. We may have to learn how to speak up for our own wishes and needs, and how to set healthy boundaries. Our new task will be finding how to navigate the tension that might arise between others and ourselves. Instead of automatically tipping the attention toward the other person, the new challenge will be how to let our own light shine as well as the other person’s. 

It is good to ask ourselves:

  • What do I typically do to gain acceptance in the world?
  • Which behaviors have I developed to fit in?
  • Are these behaviors still serving me today?
  • Which character traits have I disowned or denied in the course of fitting in?

the shadow in jungian psychology

Shadow work in Jungian psychology is a descent into difficulty AND it is also a recovery of lost vitality. When we begin to integrate the shadow, we become more whole. More alive. More recognizably ourselves. Integration in this respect means physically accepting the presence of the qualities inside of ourselves. We don't necessarily have to act on them, but we want to first recognize them inside of ourselves. The advantage is that we can develop a conscious relationship to them and decide what we want to do. If we ignore this, if we deny the shadow, it will have a life of its own outside our awareness. The shadow will express itself through us, but in ways we are unaware of, or when we get a glimpse we might feel deeply ashamed or horrified. Carl Jung placed shadow work at the beginning of the individuation process. Shadow work is an important step toward becoming who we actually are.

To learn about our shadow, we want to look at what we have exiled inside ourselves in order to belong. We could ask questions like:

  • What do I most dislike about myself?
  • What qualities do I hide from others and myself?
  • What qualities do I reject or judge in others? And how do I relate to those qualities inside myself?
  • What characteristics would do I admire in others, and would I love to have myself?

the self in jungian psychology

Jungian psychology is more than ‘just’ broadening our sense of self, by consciously acknowledging our repressed and unused traits and skills. Essential to Jungian psychology is the connection to the guiding force in our psyche. In old traditions this force is referred to as the genius, the daimon or guardian angel. Jung called this the Self. When we live a life connected to this force, we experience a sense of meaning. It feels as if we are answering our calling and living a purposeful life. 

When we want to connect with the guidance of the Self in Jungian psychology, it means learning to ask deeper questions:

  • What am I currently being invited to grow toward?
  • What is the Self asking of me at this moment in my life?
  • What life wants to come into the world through me?
  • In which direction is the Self guiding me, when observing my dreams, longings or synchronicites?
  • What does the Self want me to pay conscious attention to?

individuation: become who you truly are

Becoming who we truly are is a task of a lifetime. It requires that we live our life connected to our potential and to facilitate the Self’s desire to fully express itself in our lives. Carl Jung showed us by example that each individual must walk this path with his or her own feet. With luck we may have companions on the path, but we are ultimately moved by the Self into the place that is ours and only ours.

Jungians often talk about the ego-Self axis. In the individuation process the ego (the part that we call 'I') attunes to the Self. The first half of life is often about adaptation and fitting in. The second half of life is about connecting to the Self. It is asking for the recognition that something larger is shaping our lives, and that it is up to us to listen to the suggestions about where to go. Often the Self is pointing to go into the direction of our shadow. The aim of the individuation process is wholeness. And becoming a whole person, is accepting who we are, including those parts we struggled to recognize inside ourselves. Yet when we do, we feel more grounded and resilient. Life has also become more meaningful, as we are truly living our own authentic lives. 

online courses about jungian psychology

If you are interested in learning more about Jungian Psychology, join master teacher and Jungian Analyst, James Hollis in the course Introduction to Jungian Psychology. It is one of the best introductions available to the fundamental principles of Jungian Psychology. He will cover the theoretical aspects, and will also enable you to apply these insights in your day-to-day life and grow psychologically. 

This article was updated in June 2026.

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Akke-Jeanne Klerk
Akke-Jeanne is Jung Platform’s co-founder & Jungian Coach. Her background consists of a Master’s in Psychology, and several years of training in Jungian Analysis. She is the author of ‘Psychology of Heartbreak’ (in Dutch) and has offered trainings on coaching for over a decade.

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