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This chapter provides the background on how Jung developed his concept of psychic energy. It describes what it is, how it works as the motivating force within the psyche, and how it can be seen in Jungian art therapy. Jung worked with the tension of opposites in the psyche and recognized that the flow of energy was important in all aspects of analytical psychology. Drawing from other scientific fields, Jung made parallels to describe energy movement, intensity, consistency, and equivalence within the psyche. This chapter also provides examples of how psychic energy works in practice with patients in a therapeutic setting.

This chapter contains a brief summary of the history and development of Jungian psychology as it relates to Jungian art therapy. It describes Jung’s early exploratory work at the Burgholzli mental hospital, his relationship with Freud, and how their philosophical differences allowed Jung to develop his ideas on the unconscious. Out of this background, individuals who were influenced by Jung’s ideas developed American and British art therapy. Although at times his theories are not explicitly stated, this chapter builds the case that Jungian psychology was integral to the development of art therapy. It shows that Jung’s perspective was more widely accepted in the United Kingdom, while his influence on art therapy tends to be more assimilated and disguised in America.