Freudian vs Jungian

Reader Stringer Bell asked about the differences between Freudian and Jungian psychoanalysis.

Here are the main differences that I’ve noticed.

First of all, if you are gay, I strongly suggest going to a Jungian analyst above all kinds of therapy. For Jungians, you are not a footnote or an afterthought. You are at the center of the conceptual framework. Jungianism initially arose because the original Freudian understanding of homosexuality was so deficient and whackadoodle. It changed since then, but still I’d say it makes sense to turn to the kind of therapy that didn’t see you as an aberration but as a normal part of the natural order of existence from day one. There’s a great number of Jungian analysts that work very well with gay people.

If, on the other hand, your problems reside in the area of sexual dysfunction, I’d say go to a Freudian. It’s their bread-and-butter thing and nobody does it better.

Other than that, I honestly don’t think a regular person will find much of a difference. As long as it works – and it does if you want it to – what do you care about their philosophical disagreements, you know?