Author: Mark Moran

Existential Therapy in Counseling: A Grief Counseling as well as a Christian Counseling Perspective

Posted on by Mark Moran

Meaning of existence plays a key role in understanding one’s daily trials, anxieties, stresses, as well as losses.  Meaning in life can re-interpret an event for a person.  From an bad event, individuals with meaning, can move forward with a better understanding and a fuller interpretation within life.  Those without meaning to loss, or meaning to horrible things can fall victim to hopelessness and despair.  Without an anchor of meaning, one can be swept by the various currents of life with no true direction.   Existential philosophy, as well as Existential therapy, looks to find meaning in life.  In this short blog, we will examine Existentialism and its influence on Existential therapy, as well as address the critical necessity of meaning in grief counseling, as well as conflicting issues between Christian theology and Existentialism.

Existentialist therapy helps individuals find meaning in loss and to also face existential anxiety. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification as well as its Christian Counseling Program

Please review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification, as well as AIHCP’s Christian Grief Counseling Certification and see if they meet your academic and professional goals.

Existentialist Philosophy and Therapy

Existentialist philosophy has two branches.  One which encompasses a theist and sometimes Christian perspective, as well as an atheistic or nihilist branch.  Philosophers such as Gabriel Marcel, Soren Kirkegaard and Paul Tillich approach existentialism from a theistic perspective, while others such as Frederick Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Paul Sarte present a atheistic and nihilist approach to existence.  The core of the philosophy addresses humanity’s existential realities without reserve.  Death, choice, freedom, isolation and meaning or lack of meaning in life are all important aspects of that cannot be ignored.  Within this state of humanity, existence and its subjective and phenomenological interpretation of that existence details what a person is to be or find meaning in.  There is no collective pre-existing template or essence of the human blueprint, but merely existence.  As Sarte famously stated, “existence precedes essence” which at its core puts a subjective morality and choice at odds with a pre-existing objective template of reality and moral choice.

Humanity’s freedom to choose and become without fear is one of the guiding principles of non-theistic existentialist approach.  As Frederick Nietzsche proposed, one must courageously drop the shackles of objective morality or the concept of God and become a “super man” who forges forward with great courage in creating one’s own essence and identity.  While this is not the purpose of this blog to counter theological arguments over moral objectivity and the existence of God, this type of existentialist thought obviously places more power over one’s own decision what is good or evil.

Existentialist philosophy looks at human experience as a way one encounters life and discovers meaning.  Through one’s inner self, one’s self with nature and one’s self and experiences with others.  Human beings are free to relate and form one’s own meanings based on these three basic levels of existence (Tan, 2022).  In this self discovery, one must be true to one’s self or authentic.  It is when one ceases to be authentic with self, that pathology emerges.  This becomes difficult because of natural existential dread and anxiety which in itself is not a bad thing but quite a natural thing.  Within existential anxiety, one must deal with death and life, the need to act or not act, isolation versus companionship, and finally meaning or meaninglessness (Tan, 2022).   A healthy existence is when these issues are faced, discussed and analyzed.  When one does not dismiss these truths, as well as live authentically with oneself, then one finds a healthy balance in life.

Nietzsche presented an atheistic and nihilist perspective to finding meaning in existence

Tan lists some of the key elements of existentialist philosophy of being human.  He lists first, the capacity for awareness, second, freedom and responsibility, third, creating identity and establishing relationships, fourth, searching for meaning, fifth, accepting anxiety as part of life and finally, awareness of death and non being (2022).  It is when one lies to oneself and avoids these principles that pathology can occur in life. Rollo May, a existentialist therapist contends that anxiety is a critical part of life itself and now all of it is toxic but something that needs faced and addressed.  Clients need taught how to face anxiety and solve the issues and problems while remaining true to oneself (Tan, 2022).

Application of Meaning in Life

Victor Frankl, a holocaust survivor, discussed in detail the grave importance of finding meaning in life, especially, in loss and suffering.  He saw a deeper purpose that could help drive one beyond the mere presence of suffering.  His meaning was found in love and the dignity of the human person to push beyond mere tasks and elevate them to a higher power.  In this way, Frankl was not atheistic in existential thought and like others, saw the importance of spirituality as a way to find meaning.  Kirkegaard also saw the importance of emptying one’s anxiety and existential angst into the grounding of all existence which is God.  Hence, while to some therapists, meaning can be subjective and coming from within the person, other theistic existentialists promote the possibility that meaning can come from an outside source.

Regardless, the power of meaning is a strong driving force in interpreting life events. Frankl helped individuals find deeper meaning in his Logotherapy which utilized four primary techniques.  First, he employed the Socratic dialogue, second, paradoxical intent, dereflection and attitude modification (Tan, 2022).  Within the Socratic dialogue, one is directed to take a complete inventory of one’s life.  This helps the person discover direction but also what matters most.  Within paradoxical intent, Logotherapy looks to present the absurdity of a habit or behavior by exaggerating it.  Within dereflection, the therapist helps the client see other elements of an event.  In this way it hopes to utilize a type of behavioral cognitive therapy where the individual rethinks the event in different perspectives.  The idea is not to dismiss or devalue the event but to approach it from different aspects.  Finally, attitude modification, helps the client to change certain views or behaviors by not lamenting over the past which cannot be changed, but instead by learning from it and making good changes.

Frankl saw in humanity that all are good initially at one’s core and that it was the purpose of the therapist to help enlighten a person of one’s inner talents to utilize the goodness of the inner core.  He also pointed out that life has meaning and it is one’s goal to find meaning, which usually should be in something transcending, albeit, life does not guarantee happiness even with meaning, However, it the meaning and finding that meaning in the moment that all can find direction even in the most worst case scenarios.  In this way, a person retains his core, his uniqueness as well as his freedom.

Meaning and Grief

Finding meaning in existence is key but especially when loss and grief occur.

Existential philosophy and therapy plays a key role in grief and loss.  Robert Neimeyer has emphasized the critical importance of meaning making in loss.  Meaning is essential in understanding the nature of the loss and how the loss plays a role in the overall life of a person.  Individuals who utilize meaning and find meaning not only in loss but overall life can find smoother ways to adapt to the loss and move forward with the loss incorporated into one’s life.  Those without meaning struggle with suffering and loss.  This was also the case that Frankl noticed in the Nazi concentration camps.  Those who lost hope or meaning, even meaning in the most dire situations, would gradually fade quicker to despair and death.

Existential philosophy also demands that we do not hide from natural anxieties.  In the modern world, death becomes a taboo subject, but in the lens of existentialism, it is something that should be addressed, confronted and spoken about.  If we ignore death, if we ignore unpleasant thoughts of non being, then one is not living authentically according to existentialist philosophy.  Existentialist therapists will help clients face the loss, understand it, and find meaning moving forward from the loss.   These are all concepts and techniques that coincide with modern bereavement science.

Existentialism and Christian Counseling

As stated, there are many forms of existentialism.  Some forms adapt a Christian view on life that surrenders the existential experience to God under the example of Christ.  In addition, many of the concepts are concepts to use in counseling.  Seeking to find answers about existence, freedom, responsibility and meaning are important concepts for the Christian but the answers from secular existentialism seeks the inner self and experience instead of the moral law of God and established dogma.  In secular settings, existentialism can allow one to become one’s own god in decisions.  It also tends to find most pathology from within or failure to acknowledge the existential anxieties of life and ignores many other sources of issues. Many issues stem from also biological or social settings, not just one’s imbalance with authenticity and existential anxieties (Tan, 2022).

Again, when one surrenders oneself to the autonomous self, one does not find true peace or meaning as secular existentialists would contend.  That peace is through surrender of one’s anxieties to God, which is a self grounding in the Self (Tan, 2022).  Kierkagaard illustrates this importance, and even Frankl addresses the surrender of self to something to a higher transcendence as something more benefitting and long lasting than merely surrender to the autonomous self.  In these ways, some concepts of existentialism are useable in Christian Counseling with a strong precaution of avoiding its more secular and atheistic roots.

Conclusion

There are many good and bad aspects of existentialist therapy. Please review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

Existentialist therapy while more so a philosophy than a true therapeutic concept employs meaning as a key concept for modern counseling.  Meaning is essential for understanding loss, suffering and death.  Existentialist therapy also helps one to not ignore the anxieties of life but to face them and find meaning in them.  While some aspects of it have theistic wrappings, other elements are more atheistic in thought and look for the autonomous self and one’s authenticity to help build one’s character.  This leads one ultimately to a subjective perspective on each person’s meaning of life as opposed to an objective and more dogmatic one.   Regardless of belief, it has numerous benefits for counseling, in particular for Grief Counseling.  Obviously, if not religious, the power of meaning in life, even if subjective, can be a powerful source for success in the world.

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program as well as AIHCP’s Christian Grief Counseling Program and Christian Counseling Program.  AIHCP also offers a wide range of secular programs in grief but also as well in both healthcare and behavioral healthcare programs.

Additional Blog

Jungian Psychology:  Access here

Reference

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychology: A Christian perspective (2nd Edition). Baker Academic.

Additional Resources

Perera, A. (2025). Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy. Simply Psychology.  Access here

Existential Therapy. Psychology Today.  Access here

Existentialism. PhilosophiesOfLife.org.  Access here

Sidor, S & Dubin, K. (2025). The Search for Meaning: An Existential Perspective on Human Experience. Existential Therapy: Sweet Institute. Access here

 

 

 

 

AIHCP Video Blog: Changing Habits

Posted on by Mark Moran

Producing change from a psychological standpoint is difficult.  Subconscious trends and neuropathways make it difficult to change.  This can make things difficult for changes in health as well as addiction.  In addition, changes of habit from a counseling perspective can be difficult without a good plan and goals.  Theologically, one can also see the idea of change and habit closely associated with vice and virtue which are considered habits of bad or excellence.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications and see if they meet any of your academic or professional goals.

Christian Counseling: Spiritual Nature of Dreams and Dream Analysis

Posted on by Mark Moran

Dreaming is essential to human health.  When deep sleep such as REM or Rapid Eye Movement occurs, the brain waves of theta and delta occur in deep sleep.  It is within these deep states that the brain and body replenishes itself with proper rest.  Within the brain, critical storage and processing occurs that reviews various events, consolidates memories and removes waste products within the brain.  Hence during the various cycles of sleep, both non-REM and the REM, the brain resets and restores the brain and body for the next day.

During this process, the brain dreams.  Most dreams are merely reconsolidation of random materials, which is why few dreams make any sense. Furthermore, due to the deep level of sleep. many dreams  are never recalled or remembered but forgotten.  Despite this,  many believe there is more to dreaming than mere consolidation that mere random events but a deeper psychological occurrence beyond basic physiological upkeep.  Psychology points out that dreams are also unresolved issues that a person deals with at the subconscious level when the conscious mind forgets or refuses to face them.  In addition, many believe dreams are even more than unresolved subconscious issues but also deeper levels of spiritual communication.  This has credence in all religious cultures, as well as Christianity and is an important aspect of spiritual direction and Christian Counseling.  In this blog, we will review dream analysis as well as spiritual communication in dreams.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Psychoanalytic and Jungian Dream Analysis

Many dreams are merely basic noise of the brain, while other dreams may have deeper psychological meaning from the subconscious

Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung both believed in the mind’s subconscious effect on one’s conscious behavior and life.  One of the ways the subconscious spoke out the most is during dreams.   Freud emphasized that dreams were our unconscious voices reflecting wish fulfillments or repressed conscious materials (Tan, 2022).   Jung believed beyond this and saw drams as reminders of what an individual should be aware of.  In this way, dreams had a variety of possible messages, including a reflection of fears, wishes, repressed impulses, or possible solutions to problems (Tan, 2022).   Jungian psychology emphasized the importance of dream analysis.  Therapists trained in Jungian psychology help clients understand their dreams to find possible purpose or even create a better balance between their conscious and subconscious self.

Jung differentiated between the physiological process of dreaming and dreams of meaning.  Little dreams were the physiological process but Big dreams were dreams of purpose that manifested from the collective conscious (Tan, 2022).  These Big dreams were remembered and not forgotten throughout the life time.  Some were very impactful and others reoccurred.  Others possessed material from one’s darker side or Shadow side which exhibited violence or one’s more primitive desires and impulses.  The Jungian therapist goal was to help the client understand the interpretation of the dream through both objective interpretation and subjective interpretation of the dream.  Objectively, the therapist identifies the characters or events as themselves, while subjectively delves into how parts of the dream represent parts of the client, or how symbols of the unconscious relate to the conscious mind (Tan, 2022).  Jungian psychology has a multitude of various archetypes that Jung believed transcended all of human cultures and found itself within the collective subconscious of most human beings.

In the fields of grief and trauma, dreams are considered to be ways the mind looks to heal as well as understand unresolved trauma and pain.  Nightmares can be a source of trauma that is unresolved or grief issues not faced.

Christian and Biblical Dream Analysis

It not the purpose of the Christian to denounce the science of dreaming, nor counter the many logical theories on the acts of the subconscious mind, but these truths need to be held within the constructs of the Christian world view itself.   While many subconscious elements of the psyche emerge during dreaming through grief, unresolved trauma, and various nightmares, Christians believe that not all dream source material originates from the self.

Biblical dreams can be of prophecy, warning, or guidance.

Biblical sources are very clear that dreams are not merely the subconscious reflecting on itself but also the subconscious and soul communicating with the supernatural.  Since the brain and mind is not only material but also metaphysical, it connects with the soul and the soul as a spiritual being is open to communication beyond the mere physical.  One merely needs to review the many stories in Scripture where God, or angels spoke to individuals about important events.  The dreams of Joseph in the Old Testament, as well as his ability to interpret dreams to the Pharaoh illustrate the ways God communicated and spoke through dreams  In addition, one can see the importance of divine communication in the dreams of St Joseph to flee Egypt, as well as the dreams to the Magi to avoid King Herod on their journey home (Mat: 1: 18-2:23).  These examples serve but a small example of dreams and their use in Scripture.  Dreams can hence serve as symbolic visions in the subconscious state, warnings, prophecy, as well as guidance and protection in Scripture.

Some may ask why does God sometimes choose dreams over conscious interaction?  We can see both examples in Scripture, where God sometimes, like in the case of Saul, consciously and physically blinds him, while in other cases, God chooses more subtle forms of persuasion.  Dreams are far more less abrupt on the delicate nature of the soul, they tend to whisper instead of scream, and are more gentle on free will.   Most cases, the person’s spirituality level and ability to commune with God is only at the subconscious when the spiritual is most awake and alert to the voice of God.   The conscious mind and its Beta waves is more alert to the senses and empirical locus while awake and is more distracted by the temporal reality, while the subconscious mind allows the soul to focus more on the metaphysical that surrounds it.

Spiritual Warfare

If the subconscious mind is more open to the Divine and angelic, it is also more susceptible to all metaphysical actors, even the bad and evil ones.  While it is critically important to protect our soul and its ability to open itself while conscious to untapped sources, the mind and soul become more alert to all voices.  Of course, through the protection of the Holy Spirit, a Christian can sleep well knowing God and the angels watch over, but it is at night that our soul is still open to other noises of the devil.  This is why is it so important to digest good content and virtuous material before sleep, instead of immoral activity and imagery.  Nightly prayer for protection should be a key part of our spirituality.

Sometimes, spiritual warfare can still occur at night.  Satan can influence the mind while the soul sleeps to put into our mind images of hate, lust, anger and immorality.  It can sometimes be difficult to discern if this is merely our own nature, or an outside influence, but usually dreams that are recalled and truly felt as evil, are good signs of the presence of the demonic.  Where the devil cannot reach physically, he sometimes can whisper from a distance in one’s dreams.  Many saints experienced not only spiritual warfare in the dream state, but also physically, but for many Christians, dreams can play an arena for spiritual warfare.  The devil may seek to lash out, or tempt through sexual and sensual imagery.  A Christian should take consolation that these acts are cowardly and desperate attacks by Satan and to give them to God.  When the conscious mind rejects sin, Satan will sometimes attempt to enter through the subconscious, but God grants us these trials and gives one the grace to see the tactics of the enemy and to grow even stronger and more committed to adherence to His laws.

It is important when such dreams occur, upon awakening, to call upon the Holy Spirit, to chase the demon away and to bind it to the foot of the cross through Christ’s precious blood.  Spiritual Directors and Christian Counselors can better help individuals interpret if these dreams were of a subconscious level or demonic level.  In addition, Spiritual Directors and Christian Counselors can help guide individuals understand dreams that are from God, much the same way, Joseph and Daniel interpreted dreams in the Old Testament.  This is truly a charism of the Holy Spirit to have the wisdom and understanding and counsel to help discern dreams.

One’s dreams must if from God must be separated from natural noise or deception hence it must pass various tests.  Does the dream conform with Scripture and the teachings of Christ?  Does the dream exalt self or God?  Does the dream push us to better union with God or away from God?  Has the dream been discussed with other spiritual advisors on its meaning?  While there are many interpretive language in dreams, one must ultimately submit one’s will to God’s will.  If the dream matches God’s will as well as leaves a lasting and good imprint, it is more than likely something influenced by an outward source of goodness.  It is by somethings fruits that will help anyone in any type of discernment.  Something from self is less impactful, while something demonic grants no peace or good fruits or truth.

Conclusion

It is important to discern properly dreams that originate from the supernatural. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

It is important to understand the basic physiology of dreaming and sleep before attempting to diagnose dreams.  It is even critical to evaluate if dreams do instead stem only from the subconscious as dictated by Freud and Jung.  However, as Christians, at one point we understand as spiritual beings, sometimes dreams do not just stem from ourselves but are ways of communication at a metaphysical level.  Understanding if these dreams are warnings, prophecies, or guidance is essential when God speaks to us through our dreams.  It is equally important to understand that we sometimes will also face the evil one in our dreams.  It is important to be able to not only interpret dreams but discern them as good or evil.  Christian Counselors, pastors, or Spiritual Directors who have been blessed with the charism of the Holy Spirit to interpret and discern dreams can help individuals understand what God is saying and to better heed the call of a message found in a dream.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

Additional AIHCP Blogs

Integrated Christian Counseling:  Access here

Jungian Psychology. Access here

Reference

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. (2nd Edition). Baker Academic, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.

Additional Resources

Bolinger, H. (2025). Is God Speaking to You in Your Dreams? Bible Study Tools. Access here

Marchiano, L. (2024). A Jungian Approach to Understanding Your Dreams. Psychology Today.  Access here

Patrick, G. (2025). The Science of Sleep: Why It Matters and How Brain Cycles Restore Your Health. The Science Times. Access here

Yu, D. (2025). Ultimate Guide: How to Interpret Biblical Dreams Like a Theologian. Biblewithlife. Access here

 

 

Trauma Informed Care: Neurobiology Survival Response Video Blog

Posted on by Mark Moran

Natural responses to survive are not pathological but healthy.  However, human beings whose natural survival mechanisms become survival strategies that leave the person in a constant state of hyper or hypo arousal.  This video takes a closer look at the neurobiology behind the brain during and after trauma responses.

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Jungian Psychology and Counseling: In the Arena of Grief and Modern Counseling

Posted on by Mark Moran

Carl Jung is one of the pioneers of modern psychology, along side Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler.  In fact, Jung for the longest period was part of Freud’s Psychoanalytic society, but like Adler, Jung also soon became at odds with all of Freud’s concepts.  Despite this, Jung nevertheless maintained a strong affinity for the study of the conscious and unconscious mind and how they can be better aligned for optimal health.  In this blog, we look briefly at some key concepts of Jungian psychology and what aspect of these theories hold strong modern day weight and significance for counselors.

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral and healthcare certifications, including programs in Grief Counseling, Christian Counseling and as well as Trauma Informed Care and Crisis Intervention.

Jungian Psychology

Jungian psychology looks at the conscious mind, subconscious mind and collective subconscious as the three tiers of one’s psyche

Carl Young’s psychology was based upon the conscious mind, subconscious mind and collective unconscious.  Jung looked to help individuals find find individualization by awakening the subconscious mind but also integrated both the subconscious and conscious for a more healthy and whole person (Tan, 2022).   Jung considered the conscious mind to be a person’s accessible aspect of one’s nature in which the psyche or personality of the person resided.  Within the psyche, the ego exists as a unifier of memories and conscious thoughts of the entirety of the person.  Within this development, the self emerges as the center of self realization.  One’s personality is comprised of both the self and persona.  The persona is the mask or behavior one exhibits in public, but the true self is what defines the person. Personas that overlap to far into self, can cause complexes and deeper issues in knowing oneself perfectly.  Jung, also developed theories that have been more developed today with two of the most core basic personality traits of introvert or extrovert (Tan, 2022).

Beneath the layer of consciousness, the personal unconscious exists.  This, according to Jung, is the aspect of one’s personality where thoughts, feelings, experiences, as well as perceptions are screened out of the conscious mind.  These unconscious aspects of oneself need to be discovered and integrated with the conscious self.  It is there that one can find repressed memories, forgotten experiences or various personal complexes.  Finally, unique to Jung was the concept of the collective unconscious which consists of all universal human qualities that are shared and transpersonal to all human beings.  People, according to Jung, are predisposed to certain feelings or archetypes in how one perceives oneself and experiences.   Archetypes have form but not true content (Tan, 2022).   Archetypes work in such a way to help the unconscious connect to the conscious and influence one’s behavior.

Jung spent many years studying diverse populations and cultures to try find universal archetypes and symbols of those archetypes in the human collective unconscious.  Among the many included death, birth, power, the child, the hero, the sage, the earth mother, the snake, the demon and unity (Tan, 2022).   Also included were the anima or animus sexual archetypes that exist within male and female.  The anima representing the female qualities within a male, and the animus representing the male qualities within a woman (Tan).  Also of importance was the persona or mask of the individual’s personality as well as the darker more primitive side of the shadow, which correlated with Freud’s ID.

Jung believed that through understanding one’s unconscious mind, both personal and collective, as well as identifying one’s archetypes, one could find self actualization and balance in life.  However, since many of these concepts took time to unearth, he did not feel that anyone until their middle age could truly emerge as their true self.

Dream Analysis

Understanding archetypes and dream analysis is a major component of Jungian counseling. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

A key aspect of Jungian psychology and therapy involves dream analysis.  The trained Jungian therapist is able to help individuals understand the subconscious and collective unconscious mind through dreams and better identify one’s true self.  Jung did not necessarily see dreams as repressed thoughts as did Freud, but Jung saw dreams as reminders to important things or what one should be attentive towards.  He believed dreams could display a person’s fear, wishes, impulses or solutions to problems (Tan, 2022).   In analysis, the parts of the dream, if recalled, are divided and interpreted through various symbols in dreams. Jung, believed that therapy is a journey between therapist and client, not so much a distant observation.  He believed that through thee interpretation of dreams, as well as other techniques, therapists could help clients transform, individualize and self actualize their true self.

Modern Significance

While only a small percentage of therapists identify as Jungian or for that matter train within the school of Jungian Psychology, there still exists therapists who employ his methods and train under this discipline.  Like Freudian Psychology, there still are many benefits that can have been seen in case studies to show benefit, although many lack a more intensive case study with controlled and uncontrolled groupings.  Many counselors may utilize some concepts from Jung and apply as needed to individual cases, while not completely and totally undertaking a Jungian theme in their practice.

According to Tan, Jung made meaningful contributions to the developments on the study of personality, the focus on midlife, and the potential of wisdom and knowledge latent within the unconscious mind.  In addition, Jung emphasized in these dialogues of self with the unconscious to become aware of the shadow self, or the darker side of one’s nature, to not free it, but to acknowledge it and learn to control it.  Finally, Jung contributed greatly to the concepts of dream analysis as well as transference and countertransference between counselor and client.

Tan also discussed possible weaknesses within Jungian psychology.  He points out that the concept of the collective unconscious as theory remains impossible to verify empirically and also the lacks controlled case studies.  In addition, many of the concepts are very gnostic in theory.  Tapping into unknown levels of unconsciousness to discover knowledge resembles a gnostic ideal, as well as Jung’s belief in the spiritual realm, which instead of finding a spiritual relationship with a personal God, views this spiritual relationship as a archetype to help one to know thyself.  Obviously, Jung’s spirituality was something that drew a wedge between Freud and himself.  Jung’s spirituality is far from one that would resemble most Christian traditions but better resembles  those who consider themselves more spiritual than religious.  In addition, evil or the shadow side of human nature while identified as not good, remains in many ways more so like an equal power to the good that must be balanced.  This also differs greatly from many monotheistic ideals on morality.

One can still state overall that Jungian psychology has numerous unique elements and many useful techniques and tools in understanding the human mind.  For that reason, many of his concepts are still studied and adapted to modern therapies and can be used for a wide variety of issues ranging from anxiety to depression, to phobias and and issues of self esteem.

Grief and Trauma

Carl Jung remains a pioneer in the area of psychology and one would be very naive to discredit many of his contributions or even not apply when applicable some of his ideas, especially in the areas of human philosophy, personality, human development and self actualization and individualization to a more holistic and mental health.

From a grief perspective, human loss and pain involves adjustment and change.  Jungian concepts of helping the conscious mind and subconscious mind find each other can help one find more meaning in loss and work out any pathological reactions to loss itself.   Dream analysis can also aid the person in understanding the loss and the time it takes for the mind to process the loss.  The same can be true for trauma.  Trauma exists within the subconscious mind.  Traumatic memories due to intense emotional imprinting and survival mechanisms can leave the subconscious mind in a survival default mode causing anxiety.  Understanding the unconscious mind, finding balance and self actualization can all play key roles in helping one process trauma properly.

Conclusion

Jungian psychology looks to unlock the subconscious and help one reach self actualization by knowing oneself through integration of conscious and subconscious mind

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous Healthcare Certifications, as well as its Grief Counseling Program.  Other programs include Christian Counseling, Trauma Informed Care, Anger Management, Crisis Intervention and also Stress Management.  Many Jungian theories can help counselors in these areas.

Additional Blogs

Freudian Defense Mechanisms- Access here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

McCleod, S. (2025). Carl Jung’s Theory of Personality. Simply Psychology.  Access here

Jungian Therapy. Psychology Today.  Access here

Heyl, J. (2025). Carl Jung: Biography, Archetypes, Theories, Beliefs. VeryWellMind.  Access here

What is Jungian Psychology? (2024). Routledge. Access here

Integrated Christian Counseling: A Perfect Balance

Posted on by Mark Moran

Christians believe truth is truth and God is the author of all truth.  God is the author of Scripture, but also the author of creation.  All sciences and studies that investigate the nature of creation, from biology to physics, to mathematics to astronomy, or even medicine and psychology are products of God’s truth.   Hence, when contradictions appear between faith and science, the contradiction is not the truth of God, but errors of men.  The error either lies in poor interpretation of Scripture, or poor application of science.  In this short blog we will define what integrated Christian Counseling entails as well as examine it’s critical importance in psychology and counseling.

Integrated Christian Counseling presents a Christo-centric morality but also utilizes modern psychological therapies to help people heal physically, mentally and also spiritually

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Distrust of the Scientific Method within Christian Communities

Since the age of “reason” as well as the scientific revolution, the empiric method emerged.  The empirical method of science is not the enemy to the faith, but when molded by agnostic or atheistic minds, it can be utilized to remove God or any theological and metaphysical ideals.  This is simply because the empiric method is a tool to examine the natural world not the metaphysical one.  It is based on observation through the senses, it is tested, verified and proposed as theory to later be seen as a law.  It dismisses past superstitions, or over-emphasis on attributing natural occurrences as spiritual.  As a tool though, it has a purpose but when its purpose is used to analyze all of human experience that is spiritual or metaphysical, then it no longer serves a purpose.  This is the error of many atheistic or agnostic scientists.  Their religion and altar becomes the empiric method and anything that does not fall under its shadow is dismissed as myth or fantasy.

Naturally then, many Christians may fear the chosen weapon or tool of the scientist, not so much because of the weapon itself but because of who wields it.  By rejecting modern empiricism, the Christian isolates himself or herself from many truths of God’s creation.  Whether a natural law was observed by an atheist or agnostic has no bearing on its reality and truth in the natural world and its conformity to the natural law.   So when studying theology, or Sacred Scripture, one enters into a new science, one that is not based upon the scientific method, but one that is based on different levels of human experience, as well as the virtue of faith.  This does not make Theology inferior, for it is the highest science because its end object is God.

Modernism attempted to bridge empiricism with faith, but the failure of this heresy lies in the fact that is placed theology as well as Sacred Scripture second to empirical verification.  It retained spiritual experience to only vital immanentism, where faith and belief was constrained only to human  subjective experience.  Modernists refused to correlate miracles and acts of God with natural science.  They mused that since God is the author of both natural science and theology, then theological stories that support supernatural events are impossible since they go against the empirical method.  Because of this, modernists rejected many stories of the Bible as myths, as well as even doubting the Resurrection of Christ.  Since supernatural events cross into the threshold of the natural law and its world, they reduced faith to only subjective experiences that could not contradict the laws of nature.   So while still remaining theists, they limited God’s power in the natural world and attempted to re-interpret Scripture to meet the demands of the empirical method.   As stated earlier, sometimes improper interpretation of Scripture and its miracles can lead to a conflict with the natural world and its laws, but the Modernist heresy not only re-interpreted the Bible, but outwardly placed it under the foot of empiricism.  By reducing anything of supernatural power to mere mythical language, it violated Scriptures integrity and denounced God’s power over nature.

I do not suggest such an extreme and heretical approach to implementing true science with faith, but instead presents a more complimentary approach that respects dogma, morality and teachings of Scripture with the natural and health sciences of the world.  This protects both Scripture from heretical rebranding, but also accepts the many truths discovered by science through the empirical method.  They both can stand side by side because God is the source of both.

So, while many fundamentalist Christians suffer from a complete distrust of science in the fields of natural history, geology, evolution, and other sciences, it is important to not simply disregard these findings based upon the name of the person who presented it.  In fact, disregarding is not only dangerous to truth, but it can also limit those within the faith in their own exploration of Scripture, as well as misuse of it.  For instance, while integrated Christian Counseling endorses both science and the Bible, it does not look to find all answers about physical and mental health, or the natural world in the Bible.  The Bible is collection of sacred books, inspired by God and written through men, to lead one to spiritual salvation.  It was never intended to become medical manual or science text book.   The Bible teaches foundational aspects about humanity’s  broken condition due to sin which is a crucial starting point, as well as laying foundations on morality and good living, which serve as important launching points in counseling and psychology.

Types of Approaches

Just as modern psychology has many schools of thought, Christian Counseling also has various schools of how Scripture is utilized in counseling

Contrary to popular belief, psychology did not start with Sigmund Freud.  While Freud and even Alfred Adler raised the level of psychology to a deeper empirical science, there idea of helping people through mental and behavioral issues was done well before them within the Christian tradition.  From the Patristic Fathers and throughout the history of the Church, spiritual direction and moral guidance has been a hall mark of helping individuals find balance and peace.  Christian Counseling thus has existed for centuries before the new findings about the brain and psychology of the human person.  These new findings are helpful and can only add to the richness of a theologically based Christian Counseling.

In psychology there are various approaches, schools of thought and therapies.  One needs to merely look at the differences between psychoanalytic theories to more modern human centered theories or even behavioral and cognitive therapies.  No true school holds a monopoly on what is the best type of counseling.  There are important truths found in all schools of thought that help in certain cases, despite the fact that certain counselors and psychologists may adhere to one primary school.  So to truly find one counselor in this day age who adheres to one school of counseling and psychology is more rare.   The same can be said with Christian Counselors.

All Christian counselors believe that God and biblical sources are the foundational piece.  They believe a Christo-centric world view to manage counseling.  The basic premise is humanity is broken through sin and as a result of sin, all evil and suffering exists.  The extent to which everything clinically is a product of sin differs.  While sin is the source, there are still detailed explanations about why we suffer.  If one goes to a physician, whether religious or not, the physician consults medical practices consistent with evidence based support and testing.  Obviously, the ultimate first cause of sickness is sin but that diagnosis is redundant in healing.  Sin is the cause of it all but helping one heal is based on the proper medicine for the acute condition.  The same is true for Christian Counseling that is integrated.  It acknowledges sin as the root and also encourages Christ like remedies in the moral life to produce true change, but it does not ignore the pathologies or issues that exist within the brain, or the numerous case studies that show productive therapeutic results.

With that said, some schools of thought within Christian Counseling are far more biblical and suspicious of modern psychology, while other schools are far more welcoming.  Biblical Counseling in its truest sense is one of the far right extremes.  I would consider it more extreme because it finds all answers in Scripture.  It is more suspicious of the empirical sciences and looks to find most of life’s solutions in Scripture.  Strictly Biblical Counselors will resort to more faith based answers than modern psychological therapies.   This is not to say Scripture does not provide a broad frame work of moral information to cultivate healthy change in life, but in extreme cases, it can look to replace even proven modern methods.  Obviously someone facing depression, or PTSD or extreme trauma will benefit from Scripture.  One can even find helpful concepts and soothing ideals of love.  However, Scripture does not provide guidelines for treating depression or PTSD which are issues associated with the brain’s chemistry.  While Scripture supplies a strong foundation, it is not meant to be utilized as if the DSM-5 to treat pathology.

From the opposing side, Christian Counseling falls also into some who apply the Levels of Explanation approach.  This approach accepts the human condition based on Scripture, but is more interested in approaching mental health through the secular psychological schools of approach.  For a Christian, it may not be enough biblical based or emphasized.

Within the middle ground exists Christian Psychology which embraces the entirety of Christian thought on people helping and implementing also modern psychology, as well as Transformational Christian Counseling that uses Scripture to help transform a person spiritually from their issues.  The integrated Christian approach best captures Scripture, the Christian tradition and modern psychology.

What one tends to see are more clinical counselors in levels of explanation, as well as more devout clinical professionals in the integrated approaches, with more pastors strictly within the biblical approach.

Like secular psychology, no one school holds a monopoly on what is best or better, but it depends on the person’s needs and faith base.  AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program is more so based within the integrative school.  This is especially so because AIHCP certified healthcare and mental health care professionals with academic background.  Nevertheless, many pastors still see the value of AIHCP’s program since it believes in a strong biblical presence.  Biblical exegesis and Biblical advice protects the person from the advice of the world which in secular society can break from the morality of God’s law.  Christian Counseling adheres to Christo-centric ideals of behavior and necessary changes.  Underuse as well as overuse of Scripture in counseling can produce negative things.  If overused, good and proven therapeutic strategies can be overlooked with suspicion, while if under used, the strong moral tradition of Christianity can be ignored.  The importance of mental care but infused with spiritual care to produce true transformation via the Holy Spirit is essential in change.  One cannot simply rely on physical and mental remedies but also spiritual wellness and healing.  Christian Counseling that is properly integrated can achieve both.

Of course, not all Christian Counselors are clinical and because of this can be limited within their scope of practice, but those with clinical licensures can employ these ideals to their clients who wish for a Christian perspective and also require therapies beyond the scope of a minister or pastor.  And also important to remember, whether clinical or only pastoral as counselors, all schools of thought, whether secular, religious, or both, must adhere to the ethical and legal standards of the profession.

Conclusion

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals

When counseling acknowledges the Christian tradition, as well as the broken human nature and sin, then it has a true foundation to find true healing for the person at every level of existence.  Integrated Christian Counselors, utilize Scripture, Christian tradition and modern psychology to present the most holistic and best healing practices to mind, body and soul.  It presents a perfect balance to the client.  It understands that God is the author of both Scripture and psychology and that they can compliment each other in the full healing of a person.  Incorporating various techniques and principles from all schools of psychology, as well as Christian counseling approaches can be useful in giving the best client care.  Whether pastoral or clinical, all Christian Counselors are called to apply good Biblical morality and best tested therapies to their client while adhering to counseling laws and ethics.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Please also refer to these text books for more information on Integrated Christian Counseling.

Our text book for SC570

Collins, G. (2007).  Christian counseling: A comprehensive guide. Thomas Nelson

and

Johnson, E., Ed (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five views 2nd Ed. IVP Academic

For other Christian Counseling based blogs, please review

Christ and Integrated Christian Counseling. Access here

Brain and the Soul.  Access here

Additional Resources

“Integrative Therapy”. Psychology Today.  Access here

“Therapy Types and Modalities”. Psychology Today.  Access here

Collinsworth-Cobarruvias, S.  (2018). “Biblical Foundation for Christian Integration: A Theology of Christian Counseling”. Access here

Zarbo, C. et, al. (2015). “Integrative Psychotherapy Works”. Front Psychol. 2015; 6: 2021. National Library of Medicine. Access here

 

Trauma Informed Care Program and Grooming Video

Posted on by Mark Moran

Predators and perpetrators groom children in advance and usually know the child as compared to the more rare brazen kidnapping scenarios.  This video takes a closer look at grooming.  Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification Program as well as AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program

AIHCP and Healthcare Certification Blog: Alfred Adler and Individual Psychology

Posted on by Mark Moran

Alfred Adler, who many consider to be the father of modern psychology differed greatly from Sigmund Freud.  In fact, Adler was once part of Freud’s psychoanalytic society, but was removed due to many of his differences from Freud considering human potential and his insistence on looking farther than merely ones parental upbringing but also looking at multiple other social aspects.  He also differed from Freud in the counselor client relationship.  It is of then wonder than many human centered philosophies, such as Rogerian counseling, stemmed and can trace its roots back to Adler.

Alfred Adler set the stage for many modern counseling interventions and techniques. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous healthcare certifications, as well as behavioral and mental health certifications in grief counseling, trauma informed care, stress management, anger management, crisis intervention, as well spiritual and Christian counseling

Adlerian Counseling

Alfred Adler’s approach was far less pessimistic than Freud’s outlook and instead of subconscious determinism, Adler saw potential (Tan, 2022).   Adler focused on goal orientation with less focus on the subconscious and more attention to the conscious mind to meet goals and develop one’s potential (Tan, 2022).   This led to Adler’s “Individual Psychology” that looked at a more wholistic view point of human nature rather  than just limiting to subconscious and biology factors.  Below are some of his key concepts in approaching psychology and counseling.

Subjective Perception of Reality

Adler took a phenomenological approach to human experience as something subjective to the agent and how the agent responds to a myriad of experiences.  This approach is very much tied to numerous modern schools of thought.  The counselor instead of quietly and out of view interpreting instead becomes an active agent in discussing these experiences with the client (Tan 2022).

Unity and Holistic Development

Adler focused on the full holistic of human nature, emphasizing the purpose of life goals and meeting those goals.  In doing, so Adler is famous for identifying and coining the term “inferiority complex”.  Many attribute this term due to the fact Adler was one of many children and faced inferiority complexes himself.    Adler believed that one could overcome these inferiority complexes by continuing to strive for perfection and competence.   He, however, warned of how inferiority complexes can become pathological, as well as superiority complexes which is merely a mask of feeling inferior (Tan, 2022).

Social Interest and Community Feeling

Adler also emphasized the importance of the individual’s role in community and social life as an important part of being a human person.  He also considered how one contributed to society with his or her talents as key part of a healthy mental person (Tan, 2022).

Life Tasks

In contrast to Freuds sexual phases of development, Adler emphasized the importance of completing life tasks.  He listed the task of building friendships, love-marriage task of intimacy and the occupational task of work and making contributions to society.  Later professionals would also add self acceptance, development of spirituality and the parenting and family task. (Tan, 2022).

Birth Order

Key to Adler, since he belonged to a large family, was birthing order and how it plays a significant role in one’s personality.  Like Freud, Adler maintained most of one’s personality is formed within the first 6 years of life, so naturally birth order and the family paradigm was important.   Birthing order to Adler did not always necessarily mean by chronical order, but also sometimes with maturity, as well as groupings of children who were far younger than maybe the first two children who were close of age.  Within this, Adler categorized eldest characteristics, as well as middle child and youngest child (Tan, 2022).

Counselor/Client Relationship

Adler believed strongly in the therapeutic relationship with the client in contrast to the more isolated approach of Freud

Adler is seen as the father of modern psychology because of his patient centered approach to counseling.  He pointed out the importance of a therapeutic relationship with the patient that encourages, shows empathy, and walks with the client.  Important to good counseling are detailed assessment to help the counselor better understand the needs and history of the client.  Following assessment are many probing open ended questioning techniques such as “The Question” which entails asking someone if his/her life was different, what would one like to do and the “what if” questioning.  Adler hoped to help clients see their self worth as well as to identify their self-concept and self ideal in conjunction with their worldview and ethical convictions (Tan, 2022).

Adler emphasized in self assessment and growth the danger of over-generalizations, false or impossible goals, misconceptions of life’s demands, minimization of self and also pointing out faulty values (Tan, 2022).  In doing so Adler developed numerous counseling techniques which include encouragement, immediacy, “as if” exercise, catching oneself prior to bad behavior, creating healthy images, “spitting in the client’s soup”, “Avoidance of the Tar Baby”, push button techniques of controlling emotional regulation, paradoxical intention, task setting and commitment and finally the use of homework for the client (Tan, 2022).

For deeper clarification in some of the terms, “spitting in the client’s soup” is a technique a client uses to take the reward or attraction from something the client seems to be heroic or good.  It permits the client to see more clearly how detrimental their statements or emotions are.  “Avoiding the Tar Baby” is a technique that pushes the client to address issues they hope to avoid.  The “Push Button Technique” is used to help clients visualize pleasant and unpleasant memories and to learn to feel and regulate the emotions within them.  Finally, “paradoxical intention” is a technique that exaggerates a bad behavior to help clients see how ridiculous the behavior already is (Tan, 2022).

Conclusion

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral health certifications including Grief Counseling, Crisis Intervention and Christian Counseling

Albert Ellis, one of the founders of CBT, considered Alfred Adler to be the true father of modern psychology (Tan, 2022).  It is easy to see why since it goes well beyond psychoanalysis but engages the client with empathy but also helps the client face their behaviors to promote change.  This type of therapy or tools taken from it and borrowed by other schools has proven to be effective for many psychological ailments such as anxiety, affective disorders, personality disorders and anti social disorders.

Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications as well its many behavioral health certifications, including Christian Counseling as well as Grief Counseling.

Additional AIHCP Blogs

Psychoanalytic Counseling: Access here

References

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. (2nd Edition). Baker Academic, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.

Additional Resources

Cherry, K. (2025). Alfred Adler’s Career, Life, and Theory of Personality. VeryWellMind. Access here

Hoffman, R. (2024). Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology and Personality.  Simple Psychology.  Access here

Adlerian Therapy. (2022). Psychology Today. Access here

Sutton, J. (2023). 22 Most Effective Adlerian Therapy Techniques and Worksheets. PositivePsychology.com.  Access here

 

 

 

 

 

Psychodynamic Theory in Counseling

Posted on by Mark Moran

For many counselors, psychodynamic and psychoanalytic schools of thought are considered outdated and less used.  While many good fruits came from Sigmund Freud and his theories, as a singular and closed system, it fails to meet many of the demands needed in modern psychology.  This short blog will take a look at some of the good aspects of psychoanalytic theory and some of the bad and suggest how useful or not useful it may be for clinical counseling, as well as a pastoral counseling.

Please also review AIHCP’s various behavioral and healthcare certifications, as well as its Grief Counseling Program and also Christian Counseling Program

Basics of Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic

Sigmund Freud is not only the father of psychodynamic theory but also considered one of the fathers of psychology itself

Freud as a medical professional saw most problems from a pathological level of care, instead of a wellness approach to care.  Unlike modern psychology, his thought looked more inwards to the subconscious mind and early childhood development.  Due to biology and upbringing within the first six years, a person’s personality was determined early, instead of focusing more on a person’s choices later in life, as well as other social and environmental factors leading to personality.  In essence, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic is a talk therapy with big emphasis in discussing the past, unlocking the unconscious and finding balance in life.

Within Freud’s system of thought existed the ID, Ego, and Superego.  These classical terms are well known to even the least exposed person to psychology and counseling.  It is no doubt that one has heard these terms throughout life.  In Freudian psychology, the ID is humanity’s inner instincts and drives, such as life instincts of life and sexual energy and death instincts of death and aggression. The Ego dealt more with persons inner self or mind and its relation to the outside world and the Superego was a person’s connection to a code outside of itself, such as customs, laws, morality and conscience (Tan 2022).    When these three parts of existence became unbalanced, then pathology was the end result in various forms of anxiety, depression or other more serious mental defects.

Since most issues are at the unconscious level, Freud believed in long term and in-depth counseling that interpreted the person’s subconscious and helped the person face those subconscious issues in a conscious confrontation.  By awakening the unconscious and confronting it by bringing the subconscious material to the conscious spotlight, Freud looked to help individuals find peace and reconciliation with who they were and how to adjust.

In doing so, Freud believed the counselor was an interpreter and guide, not a coach or soul helper.  Freud believed the counselor must be as neutral as possible and become a listener.  This anonymous nature was better created by having a person lay on a couch or sofa out of sightline from the therapist.  This led to the next step of free association where the client was encouraged to discuss whatever immediately came to one’s subconscious, in which the therapist would then interpret and when necessary ask necessary questions.  In helping the process, the therapist can also utilize dream interpretation as a way to understand the deeper meanings of the subconscious.   In addition, the therapist would help the client deal with any resistance to the blocking of the subconscious as to ensure the person is able to face it and understand it better.  As the relationship develops, psychodynamic therapists look to interpret and better help through transference in which the client subconsciously begins to relate to the therapist as a parental figure ( Tan 2022).

Finally, Freud greatly depended upon his analysis of one’s stages of life which he tied to human sexuality.  The oral, anal, phalic, latency and genital stages of sexual development all played key roles in a person’s psychological and mental development with the body in regards to healthy and unhealthy relationships with parental figures and later adult relationships (Tan 2022).

Utilization Today

Understanding the id, ego and superego

Today, there are very few pure psychodynamic therapists who utilize purely only Freudian methodologies.  According to Tan, 3 percent of clinical psychologists, percent of counseling psychologists, 5 percent of social workers and 2 percent of counselors consider themselves purely psychodynamic in practice (2022, p. 59).   Many modern psychologists or counselors may utilize some aspects of it, or borrow some terms, but most depend more on more patient centered models that incorporate other social factors into the clients life.

From a beneficial standpoint, Freud’s theories do express the importance of the subconscious mind that is a key element of all psychology, especially in regards to the early phases of life and trauma.  Freud’s defense mechanisms also illustrate many of humanity’s natural ways to try to avoid pain, suffering, guilt, or responsibility.

From a negative standpoint, Freud’s view of human nature is very pessimistic, as well as deterministic.   This can be at odds with more modern patient based models that look to promote healthy change and focus on wellness instead of complete pathology, as well as other motivational drives beyond the sexual (Tan 2022, p. 54).  In addition from a grief study perspective, Freud’s view that grief is an imbalance and a pathology itself, does not fall into line with basic bereavement science.  Obviously, for the spiritual counselor or those of various faiths, Freud’s atheistic views dismissed spirituality.  All recent studies show the important factors faith and spirituality play in a person’s healing process.

Tan also points out that many of Freud’s theories are not easily translated into a testable hypothesis (2022, p. 55).   In addition, Tan lists the long and expensive nature of psychoanalytic therapy since it rarely can be completed within a few months, much less a year due to its intensity.  Some patients can also become annoyed and the distance and anonymity of the counselor in such a sterile environment.  For many, this does not translate well into pastoral counseling settings which demands empathy display in counseling (Tan 2022).

While psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy has been seen as a successful method for some, it still lacks empirical controlled and uncontrolled tests to fully testify to its effectiveness.  Nonetheless, it is still seen as a empirically useful method of therapy with good results since its conception (TAN 2022).

Ultimately, it comes down to the style that works best for the client and the type of counseling relationship and beliefs the client holds.

Conclusion

Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic counseling still has multiple benefits but is rarely used as a stand alone approach in modern psychology

While few utilize psychodynamic and psychoanalytic in professional counseling, it still is an effective method for some.  This school of counseling has many beneficial concepts and tools that can be employed by a counselor, but for many, it is not the primary school utilized.  Instead many borrow certain concepts and use as needed in their professional careers with clients.  This does not diminish the shadow of Sigmund Freud’s stamp on modern psychology.  He clearly took psychology from a more soul helping endeavor in pastoral settings to a more academic and medical format.  While some of this was good, some of it left out centuries of past wisdom seen from the Church and other pastoral traditions.  It also neglected some of the basic ideals of a more client centered care with other factors at play seen with Alfred Adler and later Carl Rogers.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification, as well as its Grief Counseling program.  AIHCP offers also a wide variety of other healthcare certifications

ADDITIONAL AIHCP BLOG

Freudian Self Defense Mechanisms- Access here

References

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. (2nd Edition). Baker Academic, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.

Additional Resources

Cherry, K. (2025). Sigmund Freud’s Life, Theories, and Influence. VeryWellMind.  Access here

Cherry, K. (2025). What Is Psychoanalytic Therapy?. VeryWellMind. Access here

McCleod, S. (2024). Sigmund Freud’s Theories & Contribution to Psychology. Psychology Today.  Access here

Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology (2022). APA. Access here

 

 

Behavioral Health Certifications: Freudian Self Defense Mechanisms

Posted on by Mark Moran

Despite numerous modern objections to various aspects of Freud and psychoanalytic theory and counseling, Sigmund Freud nonetheless gave psychology many beneficial concepts that can be borrowed from his school of thought and utilized to help one understand human nature.  Among one of these useful tools are Freud’s defense mechanisms of the ego.  To recall, Freud considered the makeup of the human mind to consist of the id, ego, and superego.  The id referred to humanity’s natural inclinations and instinctive drives, the ego was in essence the executive drive behind the self and the interaction with the outside world and the superego was humanity’s alteration of self to customs, social patterns and inherited morality.  When these three were at odds with each other or in imbalance, then psychological discomfort resulted.  This short blog will look at these Freudian defense mechanisms.

Freud identified defense mechanisms people utilize to avoid pain, stress and conflict

Please also review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral and healthcare certifications.

Facing Anxiety and Defense Mechanisms

When dealing with anxiety, or distress, the ego, according to Freud, would attempt to cope with the issues, but sometimes in an unhealthy way through defense systems (Tan 2011, p. 41).   Freud stated that in particular, neurotic or moral anxiety caused most individuals to look to defend their actions or views.  Neurotic anxiety referred to one’s own fears of being overwhelmed by one’s own desires and drives, while moral anxiety was the fear of being at odds with one’s conscience (Tan 2011, p. 41).   Since many individuals’ actions are at odds with their beliefs, then naturally, individuals look to find a way to exist creating a cognitive dissonance.  In therapy, it is important to identify these defense mechanisms since they prevent the truth of the matter or the reality of the situation.

Repression

Freud considered repression to the most fundamental and important defense mechanism (Tan 2011, p. 41).  At the subconscious level, Freud believed that individuals within their first formative years could repress and block out past and painful memories.  Many of these subconscious memories would be lost to consciousness  but could only be retraced through therapy or dream work.  In addition to these memories, emotions tied to them could also be repressed but remain boiling within one’s subconscious.   This involuntary type of defense mechanism helped the person find peace but still left unresolved issues that could fester in one’s later life if not faced.

Denial 

Our subconscious looks to repress and deny uncomfortable things

Denial is a common defense mechanism and even one of the first responses in grief.  Denial looks to push away the horrid reality and to pretend it does not exist.  In grief, denial is temporary, but for some denial can become a very dangerous thing as it festers.  For instance, if one is diagnosed with a disease, one may live in a state of denial for a very long time, or if one refuses to accept the consequences of bad habits, one can continue down a unhealthy path.

Displacement

Displacement is a common mechanism that is quite unfair to others.  Instead of coping with the issue directly or facing the person causing it, one displaces the confrontation and frustration onto an easier substitute.  For instance a man who returns home from work, may instead yell at his spouse or children.  It is very common for individuals with high level stress to displace the stress source onto someone else.  This can cause great turmoil at home or with family and friends for individuals who are unable to channel their frustration into the proper source.

Sublimation 

In a very similar way, the stressed person may aim their frustration or energy into other things or projects instead of facing the primary stress itself.  This is far better than blaming a person for one’s own issues, but this defense mechanism nonetheless re allocates the problem to something else without finding resolution.  In the end, the person at least temporarily is defended from the stress but it remains waiting later.

Reaction Formation

Ironically, some individuals ignore the intense feeling they experience by acting out the exact opposite emotional reaction in a hope of controlling the situation.  Instead of confronting a person one dislikes, one instead over exaggerates the response of kindness.  While this may seem nice, it is nonetheless toxic as it builds up resentment because the stress or emotion is not being acknowledged or the issue is not being resolved.

Projection

This defense mechanism is very toxic because it places one’s own impulses or behaviors on another person.  This permits the person to blame others and to defend oneself from one’s own judgement and consequence.    This can occur when a boy hates his father because he believes his father hates him (Tan 2011, p. 42).  In essence, projection permits the person to escape the emotion by placing it on the other person.

Rationalization

Rationalizing is defense mechanism that blinds us to the truth. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

Sometimes when something bad happens, individuals try to convince themselves that what occurred is not that bad after all.  This false attempt to find a silver lining does not permit the person to grieve the situation from a truthful perspective.  Because of this, the person then misses the opportunity to face the issue as well as to learn from it.  This is why especially in grief counseling, it is important to acknowledge the reality of the situation.  It is OK to feel something went wrong and to feel bad about it, but sometimes subconscious defense mechanisms try to derail this process for temporary relief.

Regression

When things go wrong, sometimes people fall back.  If something is terrible instead of facing it, sometimes people may feel the need to hide or not confront and return to more childlike behaviors or even immature behaviors.  In children, this is even more common and visible in behavior, such as bed wetting, or other thumb sucking.

Intellectualism 

Sometimes individuals may try to theorize or philosophize a bad event instead of focusing on the emotions themselves.  This defense mechanism again looks to keep the painful emotion away through rational thought about the situation.  This mechanism like many others is only prolonging the issue.  In grief counseling, it is detrimental to bury emotion and not acknowledge it.  One cannot avoid what needs to be faced.

Identification 

Sometimes, the cross or problem is so big, that one feels oneself is not equipped to face it.  In this regard, they identify with other people who have successful faced these issues.  While this can be good, it can also be bad when one begins to emulate the other person at a pathological level.  It is fine to see how others handled problems, but ultimately our problems are unique to us and we must sometimes walk the road alone and figure it out for ourselves.

Conclusion

Defense mechanisms may help in the moment but they do not resolve long term issues

In society and counseling, one can see many of these defense mechanisms.  It may be with a client or a relative or friend, but these are common place issues.  In grief counseling, many of these issues shuffle the current emotion away to find temporary relief.  Sometimes, in the moment this may be necessary, but as time goes on, these defense mechanisms can lead to pathological grief and stress reactions.  The mind hopes to spare the body as much emotional pain as possible, but sometimes, we need to face pain and suffering so that we can completely heal.

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification as well as its many healthcare certifications.

Additional Blogs

Shame, Fear and Guilt in Trauma Counseling: Click here

Reference

Tan, S.-Y. (2022). Counseling and Psychotherapy: a Christian Perspective (2nd edition) Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Additional Resources

Cherry, K. (2025). 20 Defense Mechanisms We Use to Protect Ourselves. VeryWellMind. Access here

McCleod, S. (2024). Defense Mechanisms In Psychology Explained (+ Examples). Simply Psychology.  Access here

Defense Mechanisms.  Psychology Today.  Access here

Pass, JC. (2023). An Exploration of Freudian Defence Mechanisms.  Simply Put Psych.  Access here