When the Past Erupts: Archetypes, Abreaction, and Safe Return

When I was in undergraduate and graduate school my practicums and internships were often placements that found me working with clients who had childhood trauma and complex PTSD. Homelessness, domestic violence and child abuse were common descriptors within the agencies I worked in. When I completed grad school I wanted to further my understanding of working with trauma. Consequently and intentionally, most of my post-graduate supervision toward licesure focused on adult survivors of sexual abuse. I learned about various approaches to healing, including abreactive work. I was fortunate to be supervised and trained by very skilled clinicians. But that was “back in the day” and the field has progressed. I am sharing my reframe of abreactive work as this came up in a discussion recently.

Working with Abreaction: A Neo-Jungian, Wellness-Oriented Perspective

Historical Context:
Abreaction—defined as the reliving or discharging of suppressed emotions tied to traumatic memories—was once central to psychoanalysis. Freud and Breuer considered it therapeutic to “bring the trauma to light” so it could be expressed and released. Over time, however, the approach evolved as clinicians realized that simply reliving traumatic memories, without containment or integration, could re-traumatize rather than heal.

Modern trauma-informed approaches now emphasize safety, pacing, titration, and integration. Abreaction may still arise spontaneously during sessions, especially with deep or archetypal material, but it is no longer a primary tool—rather, it is an event to be met with skillful presence.

A Neo-Jungian Lens on Abreaction

From a neo-Jungian perspective, abreaction can be seen not merely as a cathartic event, but as a numinous encounter with the unconscious. It may surface through dreams, active imagination, somatic symptoms, or symbolic triggers—portals that open to deeper psychic truth.

Rather than “clearing” the emotion, the neo-Jungian aim is to amplify the symbol, attend to the inner narrative, and integrate the experience into a broader story of transformation. The therapist becomes a guide who helps the client make meaning from the emergence—not just reduce symptoms.

In this way, spontaneous abreactions are not pathologized, but held as significant—invitations to deep inner work, approached with reverence and psychological containment.

Bridging Abreaction and Wellness-Oriented Care

In a contemporary wellness-based practice —especially one that integrates spiritual and intuitive modalities—abreaction must be handled with grace, not re-enactment. Here’s how a therapist might frame or structure this:

1. Grounded Numinous Encounters

Encourage clients to view spontaneous emotional eruptions not as breakdowns, but as breakthrough moments—only when contained within a clear safety structure. You’re helping them “stay in the room” while also witnessing the mythic or soul-layer of their experience.

2. Archetypal Framing

Abreactions often carry archetypal themes—wounded child, shadow mother, devouring father, exile, victim, redeemer. Helping clients name the archetype offers psychological distance and symbolic clarity.

“This isn’t just your personal pain—it’s a collective story showing up through you. What happens if we give it an image, a name, a form?”

3. Creating a Ritual Container

Even outside of therapy, clients can be invited to:

Create sacred space for emotional processing (candles, journaling, oracle pulls, grounding oils)
Use somatic techniques or breathwork to “re-enter” the body safely
Anchor the experience in a creative act—drawing, writing, or movement

4. Teaching Soul-Care Between Sessions

Here’s where your Essential Soul Care® lens shines. Equip clients with simple protocols for self-grounding:

Chakra-based grounding (root, solar plexus, heart)
Use of oils (frankincense for protection, lavender for soothing)
Verbal affirmations: “I am here, I am safe, I am in my body.”
Visual anchoring: touching a stone, gazing at an image that evokes peace
Naming their support network: “Who can I call if this arises again?”

A Note for Coaches and Healers

While spontaneous emotional releases or flashbacks may occasionally surface during sessions, it’s important for coaches and healers to respond with presence and compassion—not to facilitate or deepen the abreaction. A trauma-informed approach means helping the client ground, orient to the present moment, and feel safe. If the emotional material feels overwhelming, confusing, or persistent, it’s appropriate to gently suggest support from a licensed mental health professional. Holding space does not mean processing trauma—it means honoring the client’s experience while respecting the limits of your role.