01.10.26

Nowadays, there’s a great emphasis on learning the right techniques.

There’s the naive assumption that anybody can learn a protocol and that, as long as they follow it, people will get better. Although these advancements in the field of psychology are amazing, people seem to be forgetting a fundamental piece of the process, the one applying these techniques: the analyst.

Hiding behind techniques makes you feel comfortable because you don’t have to look at yourself, as everything is externalized. But the moment the analyst’s personality enters the equation, things get remarkably complicated, and there’s nowhere to hide.

Now, the analyst’s personality can make or break the entire process.

Carl Jung went as far as saying that the only real healing factor an analyst has isn’t his tools, but his own personality. That’s why Jung demanded that aspiring analysts take their own analysis seriously, as knowing the right techniques is the bare minimum.

In Jung’s words, “Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.”

Why Technique Alone Isn’t Enough

Carl Jung certainly valued book knowledge, as he kept up with all the research available in his time, but none of it matters without real-life experience. If the analyst’s personality is the most important factor, we have to transcend the office and look at his life, relationships, dreams, failures, and philosophy of life.

What makes a good analyst is his commitment to the truth, not being afraid to be who he is, and living a meaningful life. This isn’t about scrutinizing people’s lives; it’s about the analyst being aware that everything he is follows him when he’s one-on-one with his clients.

We can’t fool ourselves into thinking that our life experiences disappear the moment we put on the “analyst hat.” That’s why it’s so important that the analyst isn’t neurotic; otherwise, everything the client says or does will be filtered through his own neurosis, and both people will get lost.

Simply put, you can’t help anyone navigate and confront something you haven’t faced yourself. Don’t get me wrong: this isn’t about being perfect. It’s about fully committing to facing your fears and living your life and relationships as best you can.

This is interesting because, eventually, every analyst meets a client who is dealing with the exact same problems he is. In my opinion, the solution isn’t to shy away from this challenge, but to solve it in your own life so you can help them.

This has happened to me many times: a client reports a relationship conflict or fear he’s dealing with, and it hits me like a brick because I know I’ll have to face it before I meet with him next week. Every time I did this, I was able to help. Of course, we also have to know our limitations and refer clients when necessary, so take this with a grain of salt.

The Power of Personality

Some people might think that the analyst’s personality is a hindrance and that it would be better to have something purely objective, such as uploading centuries of knowledge into a machine and teaching it to ask the right questions and make the right interventions.

By the way, those already exist.

But when you lose the human touch, you also lose real, spontaneous reactions that go beyond technique.

Once, a client couldn’t stop worrying about a difficult work situation. My spontaneous reaction in that moment was to say, “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”

These simple words moved him deeply, and because someone was there for him, he found the strength to continue. Now, this wasn’t planned or intentional; I just replied with my personality. When the analyst reacts with surprise, encouragement, acceptance, or even disapproval, these experiences change something profound in a way no technique can.

Moreover, Carl Jung says that neurosis is, at its core, a moral problem and that healing demands a moral confrontation. Once again, the human element is important for finding the right answer, but this requires an analyst who is morally sound.

In the end, I believe the analyst should lean into his experiences and allow them to permeate the questions he asks and the way he connects with his clients, because this is what can truly lead to healing.

• Read this one next – Jungian Analysis – Step-by-Step

Rafael Krüger – Jungian Psychology Specialist

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