Archetypes in Therapy

Sometimes in therapy, we don’t just talk about the past or the present—we explore the imaginal and mythic realms. We work with archetypes: universal patterns, figures, and energies that show up in myths, stories, and deep within the psyche.

Archetypes aren’t about fantasy or escape. They offer perspective. They give shape to inner experience and help us connect with qualities that might feel out of reach. When we’re stuck in a familiar emotional loop—shut down, disconnected, unsure—inviting in archetypal energy can open up new ways of seeing and being.

You might find yourself connecting with the fierce clarity of a goddess figure, one who doesn’t apologize for taking up space. Or the innocence of a young child, who feels everything fully and asks for what they need. Or perhaps something more playful and mischievous, like a trickster who helps you step outside the rules and make contact with joy.

These aren’t roles to perform—they’re energies to feel into. Often, they’re parts of us that have gone quiet due to trauma, socialization, or shame. The imaginal gives us permission to remember and re-inhabit those qualities in a way that feels embodied and authentic.

Carl Jung wrote, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” Working with archetypes is one way we do that—not by fixing or forcing change, but by inviting in curiosity, complexity, and imagination.

Therapy offers a space to explore these energies gently and creatively. Through visualization, movement, art, or simply naming, we begin to reclaim the inner resources that have been there all along—waiting for the invitation.

Sam Trivett is a Registered Clinical Counsellor providing therapy in Vancouver and online throughout BC.