Psychotherapy or analysis?

One is not better than the other, but they are different. Psychotherapy is based on a medical model, and aims to cure illnesses (pathologies), which can be diagnosed. It may therefore be covered by health insurance. Analysis fosters and facilitates a process of personal growth which Jung called individuation – becoming more and more who you truly are as a whole person.

However, even if someone’s presenting problem is diagnosable and therefore my work is recognized as psychotherapy, I don't just see a symptom or a diagnosis but always work with the whole person who comes to my practice. Thus my way of working with people is always analytical in the sense of seeing an individual’s life as always on the path of individuation, however difficult that might be.

Expressions of psyche

Our conscious ego is like a tiny island floating on the vast and deep ocean of the unconscious. The dreams, which we have at night, are like letters from the ocean to the island. Dreams, fantasies, spontaneous drawings – any and all expressions of psyche are as important in Jungian analysis and psychotherapy as are conscious material and subjects from daily life events. I therefore encourage you to pay attention to dreams and any spontaneous expressions of psyche that come to you while you are in the process of analysis or psychotherapy.

Other resources available in my practice that can offer access to unconscious parts of psyche include sand-play and the I Ching.

Sand-play and the I Ching

Like painting spontaneously with colours, or playing or making sounds with musical instruments, sand-play is a spontaneous expression of psyche. You can play with the sand and/or place model figures, animals, houses, trees, vehicles, etc. as you like. Sand-play was developed in acordance with Jungian psychology from Lowenfeld's "World Technique" by the Swiss therapist, Dora M. Kalff.

The I Ching, or "Book of Change", is an ancient Chinese divinatory text that C.G. Jung helped to introduce to the West. It can help you to know more about the unconscious aspects of a situation that is important to you, and in this way assist with major life decisions.

How to find my practice rooms

BERN: About 2 minutes walk from Bern SBB. Entrance between Yamatuti and Dreams (sic). Ring the Shiatsu Paradiso doorbell, go through the glass door at the back of the passage, and take stairs or lift to first floor.

ZÜRICH: About 8 minutes walk from HB, or tram 4 or 15 to Rudolf Brun Brücke; Central is also nearby. Entrance below a prominent white sign "Dr. med. Marina Boban". Ring the Praxis zum Innenhof doorbell (second up).