Jung thought people related to the world (and to the Unconscious) in 1 of 8 approaches, depending on their mode of relating to others, and their primary approach to data input.  I’ve written on these before – there are 8 basic psychological types in Jungian psychology. 

 

In a tongue in cheek way I have my own four ‘psychological types’. Since I like literature, I use authors to portray these four categories.

The “problem patients” tend to resemble characters in literature, as written by - 

 

Charles Dickens – Woebegone and sad, the “Dickens characters” are this way because of social injustices and poverty.  Because society has screwed them, they hurt. These patients – through no fault of their own – are the victims of loss of job/health, income or other life misfortunes. They are hard to treat as what they really need are social reforms and assistance. They need resources, not a prescription. They are “good people” with bum luck.  They make me feel sad. 

 

George Walker – He is a playwright. George Walker charactesr are off the wall and extremely dysfunctional, with wacky families and/or relationships.  Black humor at its best, George Walker types create their own grief through impulse and poor judgment. They touch and wrestle the tar baby, rather than walk away from it.  George Walker types may be funny on stage, but in real life they are loose cannons.  They make me feel discombulated. 

 

Aldous Huxley  – He wrote “Brave New World”. The characters therein deal with everything via pills and chemicals. They approach all problems as chemical imbalances: the solution is ‘take meds’.  They won’t consider psychotherapy as it is not fast enough or deemed ineffectual – their problems can be solved by taking another Xanax.  And when this doesn’t work (or I hint they are avoiding issue) they bristle that we haven’t found the right prescription yet.  They make me feel frustrated. 

 

Stephen King – “Stephen’s Minions” may be here on the superficial notion they want to be better, but they really don’t want to change. Think of them as a cross between a Harry Potter Dementor and Glen Close in “Fatal Attractions”.  A far as I can tell, they want a theatre in which to create drama. They need people to try to rescue or improve them. Their satisfaction comes from seeing others fail in their attempts.  More than a few of these at any given time in a practice causes headaches and loss of vital fluids.  They make me feel drained.

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