The Witch as a Psychological Figure

Using a Jungian perspective, this paper considers the psychological figure of the witch in analytic work with two male patients. The witch emerged as a personification of the patient's complexes in the transference and countertransference, and in the content of dreams, images, and other objects of association. The witch presided over experiences of captivity and captivation, an object of fear for one man and a seductive figure for the other. The witch was also a potential transformative agent and path of psychological development, revealing the creativity of the archetype in the core of the complex. This dual function is highlighted with reference to the Grimm story of Hansel and Gretel and Jung's concept of the transcendent function. The clinical material gives some consideration as to whether or not the witch can be engaged for a therapeutic development involving the integration of the complex. Both men were seen for up to two years in an NHS psychotherapy service.
Source: British Journal of Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research