What is Process Work?

Process work is an innovative approach to individual and collective change, which brings psychology, group dynamics, spirituality, and creative expression together in a single paradigm. An off-shoot of Jungian psychology, Process Work was developed by Jungian analyst Arnold Mindell in the 1970s when Mindell began researching illness as a meaningful expression of the unconscious mind. He discovered that the unconscious manifests not only in night-time dreams but also in physical symptoms, relationship difficulties, addictions, and social tensions. Drawing from his background as a physicist, as well as from Taoist principles, shamanism, Zen Buddhism and communication science, Mindell formulated the idea of the 'dreaming process,' a coherent and meaningful flow of experiences that underlies problematic or painful events.

Over the last thirty years of application and research by Arny and Amy Mindell and associates, Process Work is now commonly described as "awareness practice," as its emphasis is on awareness, both the practitioner's and the client's, rather than on any particular intervention.

Process Work theory and methods encompass a broad range of applications and have been applied in many disciplines: as a form of inner work or self-therapy, as a facilitation method for groups and organizations, as a conflict resolution technique, in therapeutic settings with individuals, couples, and families, as a method for working with physical illness, comatose and remote states of consciousness, death and dying, and behavioral health issues such as addiction, depression, anxiety and panic disorders.

For opportunities to learn Process Work methods visit our Training and Classes pages.

Any photography herein is rights protected and may not be reproduced.