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Glossary of Blog Articles

Glossary of Blog Articles

by | Jan 8, 2025 | , ,

Our blog is designed as a resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the human psyche and its expression through culture, therapy, and history. Below, you'll find an overview of the diverse topics we cover and an invitation to explore the categories that resonate most with your interests. Jungian Innovators Dive into the foundational ideas of depth psychology with articles that celebrate the works of Jungian visionaries such as Carl Jung, James Hillman, Marie-Louise von Franz, and more. These...

Wilhelm Reich’s Analysis of Fascism: Enduring Wisdom and Controversial Reception

Wilhelm Reich’s Analysis of Fascism: Enduring Wisdom and Controversial Reception

by | May 2, 2025 |

Who Was Wilhelm Reich? Wilhelm Reich, a prominent psychoanalyst and philosopher, made significant contributions to the understanding of fascism through his groundbreaking work, "The Mass Psychology of Fascism." Despite the enduring wisdom of his analysis, Reich's ideas faced numerous challenges and controversies during his lifetime. In this article, we will explore Reich's perspective on fascism, the problems with his adoption by both psychoanalysts and communists, and the lasting impact of his work on political...

What are Wilhelm Reich’s Character Styles?

What are Wilhelm Reich’s Character Styles?

by | May 2, 2025 |

Exploring the Intersection of Wilhelm Reich's Character Styles, Somatic Blocks, and Modern Psychotherapy Wilhelm Reich, a prominent 20th-century psychoanalyst, developed a unique perspective on character styles and their relationship to somatic blocks, or what he termed "psychic armoring." His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for contemporary somatic psychotherapies, such as Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family Systems (IFS). In this article, we will delve into Reich's character styles, examine their...

Who was Mesmer and WHat is Animal Magnetism?

Who was Mesmer and WHat is Animal Magnetism?

by | May 1, 2025 | , ,

From Mesmerism to Modern Psychotherapy: The Enduring Legacy of Franz Anton Mesmer and the Importance of Empirical Validation Franz Anton Mesmer, the 18th-century German physician, is often considered the father of modern hypnosis. His theory of animal magnetism, or mesmerism, posited that an invisible, universal fluid connected all living beings and could be harnessed for healing purposes. While his ideas were initially met with skepticism and ultimately discredited by a commission led by Benjamin Franklin,...

What is a “Purple Hat Therapy”?

What is a “Purple Hat Therapy”?

by | May 1, 2025 | , ,

Purple Hat Therapy and the Evolution of Alternative: Psychotherapies From Energy Meridians to Polyvagal Stimulation Purple hat therapy, a novel approach claiming to heal through the power of colored headwear, has recently gained attention in the alternative therapy world. While its proponents assert that purple hats synchronize neural activity between brain hemispheres, this explanation lacks scientific evidence. However, purple hat therapy is not the first unconventional treatment to emerge in the history of...

Trauma and The Double Bind: Learned Helplessness

Trauma and The Double Bind: Learned Helplessness

by | Apr 30, 2025 |

Understanding the Lasting Impacts of Toxic Relationships The double bind theory, first proposed by Gregory Bateson and his colleagues in the 1950s, describes a type of dysfunctional communication and relationship pattern that can have devastating psychological consequences. When a person, often a child, repeatedly receives conflicting messages and finds themselves in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" type of situation, it creates what is known as a "double bind." What is the Double Bind? In a double bind...

Can Jungian Archetypes be Evidence-Based?

Can Jungian Archetypes be Evidence-Based?

by | Apr 29, 2025 | , ,

Examining the Science and Cultural Manifestations of Archetypal Psychology The concept of archetypes is a central pillar of Carl Jung's analytical psychology. Jung proposed that there are universal patterns or images that shape the human psyche and emerge symbolically across cultures and throughout history. He called these primordial images "archetypes" and believed they reside in the "collective unconscious," a layer of the psyche that is inherited rather than shaped by personal experience alone. But are Jungian...

Reclaiming the Soul of Psychology: Recentering the Study of Consciousness in Psychotherapy

Reclaiming the Soul of Psychology: Recentering the Study of Consciousness in Psychotherapy

by | Apr 29, 2025 |

Psychology, as a field, stands at a critical juncture. Over the past few decades, the focus has shifted away from the fundamental nature of human consciousness and towards a more mechanistic, symptom-focused approach to mental health. Manualized therapies, diagnostic checklists, and a preoccupation with "evidence-based" practices have come to dominate the landscape, threatening to reduce the rich tapestry of human experience to a set of computerized algorithms. As a graduate student, I remember feeling a deep...

Gnosticism as a Metaphor for Consciousness: Meaning, Evolution, and Healing

Gnosticism as a Metaphor for Consciousness: Meaning, Evolution, and Healing

by | Apr 29, 2025 | ,

Gnosticism as a Metaphor for Consciousness: Meaning, Evolution, and Healing Gnosticism is an ancient spiritual and philosophical worldview that offers a profound metaphor for the nature and dilemmas of human consciousness. While Gnosticism should not be taken as a literal philosophy or religion to adopt wholesale, it provides a powerful lens for exploring the ways we as conscious beings make meaning, how we evolved psychologically over time, and potential pathways for healing trauma by reconnecting with deeper...

The Healing Power of Humor: Finding Light in the Darkness of Trauma

The Healing Power of Humor: Finding Light in the Darkness of Trauma

by | Apr 29, 2025 |

The Counterintuitive Role of Humor in Trauma Recovery There exists a seeming paradox in the realm of trauma therapy: the juxtaposition of humor against the backdrop of suffering. For those grappling with PTSD and the horrific aspects of life that create it, the idea of finding anything funny may feel not just counterintuitive but downright impossible. Yet humor, used skilfully, is one of the most powerful tools we have for exploring and integrating even the darkest of human experiences. Stand-Up Comedians:...

Exploring Science, Pseudoscience, and the Supernatural: An Interview with Matt Hongoltz-Hetling on The Ghost Lab

Exploring Science, Pseudoscience, and the Supernatural: An Interview with Matt Hongoltz-Hetling on The Ghost Lab

by | Apr 28, 2025 | ,

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling on The Ghost Lab: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Supernatural Welcome back to the Taproot Therapy Collective podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Matt Hongoltz-Hetling, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and George Polk Award winner, to discuss his latest book, The Ghost Lab, available for preorder and set to release on May 20th. Known for his incisive investigative journalism, Matt delves into the world of paranormal research, exploring its intersections with science, pseudoscience, and...