THREE KINDS OF PSYCHOANALYSIS ARE OFFERED
Nowhere are we closer to the sublime secret of all origination than in the recognition of our own selves, whom we always think we know already. Yet we know the immensities of space better than we know our own depths, where – even though we do not understand it – we can listen directly to the throb of creation itself. C. G. Jung CW 8, par.737
Perhaps you want to follow the traditional route of Jungian analysis, the call to a journey of a step-by-step change and transformation, rich in symbolic understanding, following a path that brings in the age-old human approaches and knowledge that show the way, embarking on a journey of a few years? Or perhaps you have only a few areas of difficulty or a traumatic experience and you want to remove your distress rapidly and permanently within two to eight sessions, following a short-term path that erases past learnings, updating and replacing them with new knowledge, which enables you to achieve a life of personal meaning and joy. You seek more than mere survival; you seek to thrive and to flourish. A third option is offered where long-term analysis is combined with the short-term approach noted below.
I am an accredited Jungian Analyst trained in the philosophy and psychology of C.G. Jung at the Jung Institute Zürich, Switzerland and am based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is underpinned by academic degrees in psychology, which include an Honours degree in Applied Psychology and a Masters degree in Research psychology, which qualify me in the areas of human development, personality, abnormal psychology, social psychology, neuropsychology, sociology, ethics, and biological and perceptual systems.
I offer three kinds of psychoanalysis. Firstly, traditional Jungian Analysis is offered, which is a long-term approach to healing and transformation. Secondly, Memory Reconsolidation, following the ERASED process is offered, which is a short-term transformational process that yields immediate and permanent results for specific issues. Thirdly, combined long-term and short-term psychoanalysis. All approaches are informed by an analytical psychological approach. Approaches are described below.
1. TRADITIONAL JUNGIAN ANALYSIS | LONG TERM PSYCHOANALYSIS | THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
WHAT IS JUNGIAN ANALYSIS?
The hero’s journey is an adventure that holds out the promise of newfound knowledge, which having been gained, enables the hero to return home, transformed, to a life of meaning, taking this new knowledge into the outside world.
The underlying aim in offering traditional Jungian Analysis is the call to a journey of a step-by-step change and transformation that is accompanied by the curiosity and enjoyment of inner insights and realizations, informed by your own psyche and mediated by your analyst, on a journey rich in symbolic understanding that involves both your conscious and your unconscious aspects. It is the choice of a path that brings in the age-old human approaches and knowledge that show the way. This includes working with archetypal patterns and processes in mythology, learning from fairy tales that provide examples of how people have traditionally worked with and solved humanity’s problems, working with dreams that cater to your specific developmental needs, and includes human developmental and psychological knowledge.
We seek therapy for many different reasons. Perhaps we have no success or happiness in our romantic relationships … we always choose partners who are indifferent or controlling. There seems to be no choice other than to leave or be left, or to sit it out. Perhaps we have the right education, the right experience, but we continue to earn less than we should or, we cannot find satisfaction in the work we do, or we always end up with a boss who is dissatisfied. We’d like to do something else but we don’t know what kind of work we’d actually like to do. Perhaps we suffer from a general malaise and fail to experience the joy we think should be a part of life? We are often put down by others. We spend hours ruminating about what we should have said or would like to say. Some of us find it difficult to speak up to others. We’ve read the books. We’ve spoken to others. We’ve tried.
But change cannot be found in books. If this were the case, all growth and change would be readily available for all people and this world we live in would be a place of happiness, contentment and empowerment. Instead, the knowledge we need is held within us. You are the books that need to be read and understood. Within you are the steps that need to be taken. They’re not in any book “out there.”
To this end, hand in hand with the suffering and yearning is a searching soul, a person who wants more than a cure, has a sense that life has meaning, that the work in healing the suffering can itself be a meaningful experience. There is a sense that we are more. We are wider, richer, and more complex. We are moved and stirred by a connection to an inner self that caringly urges us onwards, feels valuable and offers a promise of the life we could be living.
Jungian analysis offers this path of transformation. It is more than mere change. It is the journey out of suffering while at the same time, the path into a full and satisfying life.
The Jungian approach
This approach takes into account the conscious and unconscious complexities of individuals and examines personal issues in the context of current life situations. Through a supportive dynamic analytical process, you will gain insight into behaviour, feelings, thoughts, and experiences. This can lead to an appreciation of a deeper meaning to life, an acceptance and appreciation for your personal path, and a realization of your potential for change.
This process acknowledges and works with the human functions of having a story telling mind, rich with the symbolism that tells both the client and therapist what vulnerabilities are driving the pain but also, what specific developmental steps will lead you out of this matrix and into the life you seek. It is a path that will guide you from what is at present a familiar approach into what is still unfamiliar for you, transforming you into a yet-to-be-known-you, so that you become that person who can live that life.
Your work in Jungian analysis will entail taking what you have experienced in your sessions, discovering how to apply this in your every-day life and experiencing transformation step by step on the journey you have embarked on – a hero’s journey – until the promise and the treasure held out in the beginning has been fulfilled and attained.
Client Comments
Leslie, Please accept these words of appreciation for how you have held space, listened to, felt with, guided, supported, advised, explored and facilitated me in recovering my inner strength, my confidence & my sense of self into a state of flourishing. You have guided me to a point where I can confidently navigate my world in a way that feels safe, playful and enjoyable. In deep gratitude.
Response from a client in a professionally demanding field who had suffered betrayal and had always been required to be “someone else.”
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Thank you Leslie for your depth of thought and care in approaching the dreams. I will treasure our time together forever. It has left a deep and beautiful impression on me. Thank you for the wisdom and penetrating intelligence you brought to our sessions. I felt a resonance with your journey and the process of speaking with the true voice in the highest resonance possible. This is the path of highest value that the dreams have guided me towards and I am immensely grateful.
Response from an exceptionally successful client who had suppressed her capacity for bringing her logical mind to her work and family life and deferred to “fantasy” and creative approaches alone, which led to pleasing others and supporting the endeavors of others and to much suffering.
HOW LONG WILL JUNGIAN ANALYSIS TAKE? The average period of time spent doing Jungian analysis is from one to three years. In a few cases this may be shorter or longer.
HOW LONG IS A SESSION? Sessions follow the accepted duration of 50 minutes.
FREQUENCY? Every second week on the same day at the same time. Changes in day or time can be accommodated where this is possible.
VENUE? Sessions are remote via zoom
FEES FOR JUNGIAN ANALYSIS? Fees are charged per session and are in line with current charges for long term therapy. The current fee is R1400.00 per session.
PAYMENT? Invoices are sent at the end of each month. Payment may be via EFT.
2. RAPID SOMATIC EMOTION REGULATION: THE E.R.A.S.E.D PROCESS | SHORT TERM PSYCHOANALYSIS | A MEMORY RECONSOLIDATION PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION
We seek more than mere survival. We seek to thrive and to flourish. Armed with new knowledge, we are able to achieve a life of personal meaning and joy and then, in this world, in all that we do and for all those we encounter, we are able to add meaning and joy.
A LIFE OF THRIVING AND FLOURISHING – NOW
Six Steps That Will Permanently Erase Old, Unwanted Patterns Of Past Learning and Suffering, Replacing And Updating Them With New Knowledge
What you will gain from the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process
This form of work is intended to remove one or a few specific areas of difficulty and suffering.
- You will rapidly remove and cut short the suffering and distress that has been ongoing, often for several decades.
- You will permanently erase, replace and update old learning patterns, with new knowledge. The ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process works and has been shown to successfully transform unmovable, enduring issues and obstacles permanently and speedily. These transformations include,
- the capacity to successfully achieve intentions, purposes, goals, or aims.
- permanent erasure of past aversive emotions and a narrow band of responses to specific trigger events, by replacing and updating these with new knowledge.
- Memory reconsolidation addresses and transforms aspects such as one or more of the following,
- the ability to relate to colleagues or superiors at work.
- the ability to attain work goals.
- being able to enjoy a great, fulfilling relationship.
- various aversive emotions and unwanted issues such as anger, anxiety, depression, sadness, panic attacks, perfectionism, procrastination, and trauma.
- As a result, you will be able to live a life of meaning and general happiness, and to experience a feeling of well-being which is associated with well-thinking.
- You will experience more than mere survival. You will live a life of thriving and flourishing.
Why we seek psychoanalysis
Some of us experience only one or a few areas of difficulty or a past trauma. But exasperatingly, the issue often finds its way into several areas of our lives resulting in repeated powerlessness, obstacles to living life fully, a narrow range of unwanted responses, negative emotions and ongoing distress and despair in the presence of certain trigger events. The problem area persists stubbornly, no matter how we try to change it. The ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process is designed to successfully erase these difficulties and the distressing emotions and responses that have been associated to these triggers, replacing and updating these old patterns of learning with new knowledge.
The goals of the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process
- Remove distress rapidly. The first goal of the ERASED process is to rapidly remove and cut short the suffering and distress that has been ongoing, often for several decades. The underlying motif is, “why suffer for a few more years while changing, when the suffering can end within one or two sessions.”
- Erase, replace and update old learning patterns with new knowledge. To this end, the second goal is inner and outer development by replacing old learnings that, although vital for safety, security and affection at sometime in our lives, are now not necessary and are unwanted. The aim is thus, to be able to finally “bring your ability into accord, into harmony, with your objectives.” It is a developmental process that endows you with the capacity to successfully achieve your intentions, purposes, goals, and your aims, such as your ability to relate to colleagues or superiors at work, or to attain your work goals, or it might be to enjoy a great relationship, the specific issue previously being unattainable and thus, leading to suffering, failures, powerlessness, obstacles, and a host of negative views about yourself. The ERASED process achieves this by permanently erasing your unwanted learnings and updating and replacing them with lasting new knowledge.
- Well-being is accompanied by well-thinking. The third goal is to be able to live a life of meaning and general happiness, and to experience a feeling of well-being which is associated with well-thinking. This form of work is intended to remove specific areas of difficulty and suffering, which act as obstacles to the achievement of goals, due to old patterns of learning that stubbornly persist. These patterns of learning are a normal part of human functioning.
What is memory reconsolidation?
Memory reconsolidation is a neuroplastic function of the brain, which is the capacity to permanently change the wirings in the brain and thus, bring about psychological and physiological transformation in the functioning of body, brain and mind. It is an evolutionary development found in both animals and humans, belonging to no one person and is theory-free. The only part of it that can be laid claim to, as is the case with any material or biological phenomenon or system, is the recognition of an application through interpretation and understanding by a professional in the specific area of knowledge. This can lead to the creation of an operational system or process that can be available for use in the world. In line with this, the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process adheres strictly to the neuroplastic governing principles of the brain that functions as a very specific kind of neuroplasticity and can be used in a psychoanalytical context. This neuroplastic function is the capacity to permanently and immediately transform old schemas and models. Used in a psychoanalytical context, transformation can take place in a single session.
The ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process and Its Development
I developed the ERASED process as a result of knowledge and experience underpinned by my specific areas of education, my capacity to understand and interpret the human symbolic functions of thinking, speech and behavior, and the capacity to perceive unexpected relationships and connections in the areas I investigate. But, as with any new development, what is “new” stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before, each person, each researcher contributing value when a part is separated out and drawn out of the whole, from within the structure and pattern of a branch of knowledge. Each person then adds to the sum of value. The ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process is such a segment of the current development of processes that translate the neuroscience of the brain’s function of memory reconsolidation, transporting it into the world of psychoanalytical practice. This process has been carefully and professionally developed by following the precepts underpinning my accreditation and experience as an analytical psychologist, sound neuroscientific and psychological peer-reviewed journal articles, published research and studies on memory reconsolidation, and a growing body of literature, advancing and detailing psychoanalytical processes of memory reconsolidation.
I have been working with clients using the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process since 2014. Results over this period have shown that it works successfully. It works because it is carefully based on and follows the brain’s governing principles of memory reconsolidation. The outcome of transformational change as a result of the ERASED Process is an experience of thriving and flourishing, and the entire process from beginning to end is pleasant, making it easy to participate in.
What is the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation approach?
This form of work is intended to remove specific areas of difficulty and suffering, rather than being an ongoing journey. The areas of difficulty are not simple or superficial. They are constellations of patterns and models, which are a natural way in which humans learn and develop. Each learned model includes information about how to think, how to speak, how to behave, what attitudes and beliefs to have, how to respond, together with specific emotions, which hold the model together as an integrated whole schema. These patterns of learning are a normal part of human functioning. From the perspective of the ERASED process, these ways of functioning are not viewed as pathological or dysfunctional. They were originally put together by us, albeit unconsciously, as the logical way to ensure safety, security, and affection when the situations we were in were dangerous, when we were met by non-acceptance, and when love was contingent on being the kind of person our care-givers viewed was acceptable. But, as anyone can testify, these old patterns are virtually impossible to change. The reason for this is that what we learn while growing up is meant to endure for life. For example, as a very young child, you learn to first put on socks and then your shoes. This becomes an enduring learning so that you don’t ever need to figure this out again when you get dressed. This approach belongs to all that we have learned over the years where by far; the vast majority of our learnings are useful and good.
Many published scientific and psychotherapeutic studies have confirmed that memory reconsolidation has been successful for issues such as, attachment issues, various aversive emotions such as anger, anxiety, panic attacks, perfectionism, procrastination, trauma, depression, and many more issues (Bruce Ecker, 2012: 107). The ERASED process has similarly experienced success and is suitable for working with a wide variety of areas including work and relational issues, emotional issues, panic attack, trauma, and views of self such as feeling inferior, stupid, helpless, unlovable, having low-self worth, and so on.
As such, the ERASED Process will consciously and effectively enable you to not only attend to aversive emotions and thoughts, to not only erase old learnings and replace them with new knowledge, to not only survive but also, to actively thrive and flourish. This is the aim of memory reconsolidation. This is the goal that evolution painstakingly developed as one of the neuroplastic functions of the brain over all the past millennia. This has now, in contemporary times, become available as a conscious, deliberate function.
What The Erased Process Is Not
Memory reconsolidation is not a “miracle process” that will transform you into another person overnight. It is a transformational process that erases old, unwanted learnings linked to specific trigger situations and replaces and updates these old learnings with new knowledge. These old learnings were adaptive and logical at the time the learning took place. The original trigger situations evoked the learning that certain painful emotions such as distress, anxiety, fear, anger, or sadness are always associated with these specific trigger situations. These emotions in turn required of us that we repetitively respond in certain specific ways – the only ways possible at the time – in order to avoid suffering from these painful feelings. It also resulted in us adopting specific, aversive views about ourselves with respect to these trigger situations such as viewing ourselves as inferior, wrong, or bad. In this way, a model or schema developed that comprised the specific trigger situation, it’s associated painful emotions, and a narrow band of repeating responses. It is the specific schema that transforms permanently “overnight.”
Client Comments
What more nobler a cause is there than helping towards the journey to wholeness for modern man.
Response from a client who functions in both scientific and holistic medical fields
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In the past I considered anything that was not serious or economical as frivolous, which stopped me from engaging in many areas I enjoyed. I also suffered from an autoimmune disease that prevented me from functioning properly when it flared up. At such times I was only able to lie down and sleep or engage with so-called irrelevant activities and felt that no one was in my corner. I criticized myself mercilessly for not being able to function as I usually did when I felt well and I felt it was very hard to rest. I felt sad, resigned, and vulnerable. I felt self-pity. After going through the ERASED Process, I was able to access a new response and new knowledge. The words, “Rest properly, Kind, Gently, forgive myself for not functioning as I do when I’m not afflicted rose up in my mind.” Be merciful towards myself. And for the first time I am acknowledging that it’s very tough for me when my autoimmune disease flares up.” I felt these new responses viscerally in my body, not just as an intellectual observation. Now, six moths later, I am even more aware of my internal critic and the rules that undermine my enjoyment of my interests I thought were frivolous. I often hear your voice questioning the idea of making the best of leftovers, while I am at liberty to find brand new perfect items for my creative interests. I have engaged someone who will take on some of my work commitments during the week. And for the next year I want to focus more on an area of real interest in my profession, while also having a more gentle time schedule to make space for a semi-retired lifestyle which gives flexibility to rest and to get away more. Thank you so much for your wisdom and the forthright insights that you shared so honestly. It has been tremendously helpful. I often think of you and hear your voice in my head when I am battling.
Response from client who is well educated, intelligent and functions in a demanding profession.
Costs And The Erased Short-Term Memory Reconsolidation Process
The ERASED Process does not function on a session-by-session basis, as does therapy, counseling or traditional long-term psychoanalysis. It is an assemblage of a coordinated and interconnected series of actions, sessions, and measures. These are combined into a unitary whole process with the sole purpose being, transformation of a specific difficulty and its suffering. The ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process thus draws a single fee, based on a complete, inclusive process.
What is included in the cost:
A complete process that includes the dynamical interaction between client and facilitator and the composite of all the unfolding, interrelated developmental parts and measures of the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process. These are:
- A comprehensive assessment: One to two live 75-minute online sessions, the number depending on the specific client dynamics and the necessary information required by the facilitator for the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process session. These initial sessions garner your transformational aims, goals and desires, your background information regarding past and current experiences, traumas, recurring aversive work and relationship experiences and difficulties around the issue you wish to transform. Dreams included in the assessment are taken into account. Included are the facilitator’s responses to client input and questions.
- Analysis of the assessment: An analysis of the assessment is separately performed by the facilitator for the purpose of eliciting and drawing out the past, mainly unconscious and unwanted learnings, the learned model, archetypal theme, or traumatic theme identified from information in the assessment – learnings, which were good strategies against suffering at the time, but now prove to be unmovable obstacles. Based on this evaluation, a personalized supportive experience of the ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process is prepared by the facilitator. The evaluation and themes are presented to the client for comment, additions or alterations, agreement, and acceptance before following the six-step process.
- ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process session: A 75-minute six-step ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process session. The sequence of six steps is simple and pleasant to engage with. But, only simple from the perspective that the governing principles of human organism functioning, on which this psychoanalytical process is based, while complex, always operate with economy as a means of achieving a desired outcome.
- Verification by both the analyst and the client at the end of the Memory Reconsolidation Process session confirming that the process has been successful.
- A written summary of the original problematic unwanted learning, changes experienced, and the client’s new, transformational knowledge, which has permanently erased a previous learning, is made available.
- Two additional verifications are requested from the client to confirm permanent erasure and updating of new knowledge: 1. Two weeks after the ERASED Process. 2. Two months later. 3. Six months later.
PROCESS PACKAGE FEE: A limited-time discounted fee for the complete ERASED Memory Reconsolidation Process is on offer at R12, 900.00 and is required before the process commences. Kindly note that arrangements can be made to pay this off over time if required. To make an appointment, register or for more information please contact Leslie at: leslie.zimmermann@gmail.com or 083 384 9812
3. COMBINING TRADITIONAL JUNGIAN ANALYSIS WITH THE E.R.A.S.E.D PROCESS
Sometimes we become stuck and it is very difficult to work through a particular deep problem during long-term analysis. In these instances, a short, ERASED Process on that specific issue can quickly resolve it. After that, the long-term analysis continues.
In such instances, you will first be advised that this is the case and why the Process is being recommended, and will first be asked whether you would like to do the ERASED Process on that specific issue. Doing this one-off process will draw a fee of R2600.00 for that session, due to the background time taken to analyze material and prepare for processing and the probability of a longer session. But at the same time, the resolution of that particular, seemingly unmovable, problem within one session will also save the costs of the several sessions it would in all probability take when working on it during long-term analysis. Verification that the specific issue processed has been resolved will take place during the following session where, normal sessions and long-term analysis fees will again apply.
The decision to do this combination need not be taken before analysis commences. It might simply arise during the course of long-term analysis and will always be a choice.
QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
MA in Research Psychology, Cum Laude (Witwatersrand University, South Africa),
Post-graduate Diplomate: Accredited Analytical Psychologist (C.G. Jung Institute-Zürich, Switzerland)
Member: SAPC (South African Psychoanalytic Confederation)
Member: IAAP (International Association for Analytical Psychology)
Member: SAAJA South Africa