Depth Psychology, Soul-Centered Therapy, Shadow Work
Shadow Work with Depth Psychology
If you have exhausted the tools of brief interventions, cognitive or behavioral change, and still feel the hollow ache of an unlived life, it is time to go beyond symptoms management on the surface and begin the descent into Soul.
"The cure of the shadow is on the couch, but the use of the shadow is in the world."
— James Hillman
You are trapped in a "Groundhog Day" of hollow distractions and mindless consumption, exhausted by a fast-paced world where no one is truly present.
In this rush to keep up, who actually sees you? Do you even see yourself? Shadow Work is the invitation to finally stop running, to be present with your Whole self, and to face the parts of yourself that have been ignored for too long.
Recover your Soul
Shadow Work with Soul-Centered Therapy & Depth Psychology
I am not here to "fix" you, but rather to co-create a warm sanctuary where your most authentic self can be awakened into reality across every moment of life—no matter how bitter, sour, or sweet.
What Is Shadow Work Through Depth Psychology?
In the tradition of Analytical and Archetypal psychology, shadow work is the practice of hosting our symptoms as guests—transmuting the 'sinister' depths of unlived life into vital, symbolic existences that are deeply meaningful and enchanted.
Depth Psychology (specifically Analytical and Archetypal) moves beyond the surface-level "management of symptoms." It suggests that your malaise, depression, anxiety, or "Groundhog Day" loops are not necessarily just biological glitches or problems to be fixed, but a summons from the Soul.
In this tradition, your symptoms are viewed as messengers—symbolic pointers indicating that the "Ego" has become too narrow and the "Unlived Life" is knocking from the basement. Rather than merely suppressing the pain, we move from the Literal to the Symbolic, asking: Who is the guest at the door? What part of your humanity has been exiled in the name of survival?
By shifting our focus from "fixing" to "witnessing," we begin the process of Psychic Reclamation. We stop viewing your history as a series of errors and start seeing it as Destiny —a necessary descent that allows you to move from being a victim of fate to becoming the conscious inhabitant of your own profound meaning.
What is Soul-Centered Therapy?
In the tradition of Analytical and Archetypal psychology, shadow work is the practice of hosting our symptoms as guests—transmuting the 'sinister' depths of unlived life into vital, symbolic existences that are deeply meaningful and enchanted.
This analytical rigor is blended with the Three Teachings of my cultural roots—Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism—and the mythic weight of the Ancient Greeks. My practice is the embodiment of my identity and lived experience across East and West as an Asian+American. By standing at the intersection of these lineages, I guide you in moving beyond the "Rat Race" of the surface to rediscover a life of deep meaning, relational virtue, and soulful enchantment. By integrating these diverse lineages, we transform your private struggle into a Sacred Descent, reclaiming the vital pieces of your identity that have been lost to the noise of modern life.
What to Expect from Soul-Centered Therapy
In our work together, you can expect a warm sanctuary where we do not "fix" your history, but understand it more deeply. We practice a "Sacred Descent"—moving into the dark, fertile parts of the psyche to retrieve the vitality you’ve lost. We draw from these diverse origins to guide our way:
The Architecture of the Self: Informed by Analytical Psychology, we explore the Complexes—those "inner personalities" that take over during triggers—and the Shadow, where your exiled vitality hides. This helps us move toward Individuation: the process of integrating these fragments so you can be led by the Self rather than by unconscious patterns.
Leaning into Yin: Drawing from Daoist Alchemy, we stop the aggressive "Yang" pursuit of light and learn the strength of the receptive, the dark, and the fertile valley of the Soul.
Eating the Poison: In the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, we do not push away the "sinister" or the painful; like the Peacock, we consume the poisons of our life—our grief, our anger, our loneliness—and transmute them into the iridescent plumage of wisdom and truth.
The Mahayana Heart: We practice Interbeing, recognizing that your personal "mud" is the essential soil for your "lotus." We hold your symptoms with the compassion of the Bodhisattva, seeing them as messengers rather than enemies.
The Virtue of Ren (仁): The supreme Confucian virtue of "Human-Heartedness." Composed of the radicals for "Person" (人) and "Two" (二), it represents the co-humanity forged in relationship. We cultivate Ren to bridge the gap between our private shadows and our shared world—anchoring our healing in lineage and benevolent resonance.
The Mythic Mirror & Nekyia: Drawing from Hellenic Archetypes and the work of Jungian Psychiatrist Jean Shinoda Bolen, we look behind the veil of your "Groundhog Day" routines to identify the Gods and Goddesses acting as the internal blueprints of your psyche. In the Greek tradition of the Nekyia—the mythic descent into the underworld—we view your periods of darkness not as a clinical failure, but as a purposeful journey into the deep unconscious. Integrating C.G. Jung’s perspective, we enter this "fertile introversion" to encounter the Shadow, to transform a dark night of the soul into a journey of initiation and rebirth.
Starting Therapy is easy
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Get in touch by filling out this quick form here.
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We’ll schedule a time to chat and make sure we’re a great fit.
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Start therapy and begin your journey to healing!
Hi, I’m Benjamin Nguyen, LCSW
But you can call me Ben.
I am a UCLA-trained licensed psychotherapist with advanced post-graduate clinical training in Jungian Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles, where I studied under the supervision of senior Jungian Analysts. My work is a unique synthesis of Depth Psychology and the "human sciences," drawing from my rigorous background in Anthropology and Gerontology to honor the full arc of adult development, aging, and humanity. To bridge the clinical with the sacred, I also integrate the Spirituality of IFS, and other cultural wisdom and mysticism to help navigate various internal "parts” with compassion and play.
Frequently asked questions about Soul-Centered Therapy, Shadow Work and Depth Psychology
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No. While I draw heavily from analytical themes, this is not traditional, high-frequency psychoanalysis. Soul-Centered Therapy is more adaptive, creative, and less rigid—designed to meet the modern individual where they are while maintaining the depth of the Jungian lineage.
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The word psychotherapy literally translates to the "service of the soul," yet modern psychology has largely abandoned this root in favor of clinical "fixing." Following James Hillman’s lead, I believe we are missing the "soul of the matter"—the deep, mythic, and imaginative layer of life that gives our existence true flavor and purpose beyond mere survival.
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The word is a bridge across cultures. In the West, our English word Soul (from the Proto-Germanic saiwalō) carries the ancient meaning of "coming from or belonging to the sea," suggesting a deep, fluid origin. To the Greeks, it was Psyche—the "breath" or butterfly that animates the body—which is the root of "Psychology" (the study of the soul). From the lens of Daoist Mysticism, soul is the harmony of the Hun and Po (the ethereal and earthy spirits) that allows us to walk the Way (道). To Jung and Hillman, soul is the imaginative "middle ground" that speaks in symbols and dreams, seeking a life of depth rather than just surface-level functioning.
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Not at all. I am deeply aware of the wounds caused by toxic theology; this is not religious counseling, or theological instruction. It is a psychological and cultural synthesis of Depth, Archetypal, and Jungian principles designed to help you discover your own internal guidance system and personal meaning. I pull from spiritual traditions that have been woven into my life which makes our time unique to my Soul’s interaction with yours, versus something from a manual. I believe every relationship in therapy will reveal a different essence because of our unique spiritual journeys.
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"Shadow Work" is a broad, ancient umbrella used by many cultures and traditions; you may encounter non-licensed guides who do beautiful work. My practice, however, is grounded in licensed psychotherapeutic principles, specifically Analytical (Complex) Psychology, ensuring that our encounter with the "darker" elements of the psyche is contained within a safe, clinical, and ethical framework.