by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Apr 29, 2025 | Psychology Topics
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...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Apr 29, 2025 | Comparative Religion, Jungian Concepts
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...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Feb 19, 2025 | Jungian Concepts, Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers
Carl Jung’s Tension of Opposites: Mapping the Psyche’s Polarities for Healing and Wholeness One of Carl Jung’s most profound yet often misunderstood ideas is the concept of the tension of opposites within the psyche. Far from a simple binary or a...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jan 28, 2025 | Comparative Religion, Depth Psychology Approaches and Techniques, Jungian Concepts
What Schools of Thought did Carl Jung Influence? When Carl Jung began developing his theories of the psyche in the early 20th century, he likely did not foresee just how far his ideas would reach. As a psychoanalyst and philosopher, Jung was primarily focused on...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Nov 8, 2024 | Classical Mythology, Jungian Concepts, Symbolism and Meaning
Insights from Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Hindu Mythology for Psychotherapy, Creativity and Trauma Why do Depth Psychologists Use Mythology in Therapy? Mythology has long been recognized as a powerful tool for understanding the human psyche and the complexities of...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Oct 23, 2024 | Classical Mythology, Jungian Concepts
What did Plato say about Atlantis: In Plato’s Republic, Socrates and his interlocutors set out to answer a profound question: What is justice? In the course of this inquiry, they imagine an ideal city-state, a utopia ruled by philosopher kings. On the surface,...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Oct 18, 2024 | Philosophy
Who was Søren Kierkegaard? Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a Danish philosopher, theologian, and author widely regarded as the first existentialist philosopher. His work explored the nature of human existence, emphasizing individuality, personal choice and...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Sep 4, 2024 | Psychology of Design and Architecture
Who was Paul Maclean? Paul D. MacLean (1913-2007) was an American physician and neuroscientist who made significant contributions to the study of brain evolution and behavior. He is best known for his triune brain theory, which proposed that the human brain is...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Sep 4, 2024 | Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology
Who is Antonio Damasio? Antonio Damasio is a pioneering neuroscientist, best-selling author, and professor of psychology, philosophy, and neurology at the University of Southern California, where he directs the Brain and Creativity Institute. His groundbreaking work...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jul 17, 2024 | Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology of Design and Architecture
What Can the Origins of Religion Teach Us? The origins and evolution of human religious like thought have long fascinated scholars, but they may also hold the keys to therapy and religion. . By examining the archaeological record, mythological narratives, and the...
