What is Processwork?

At Spacious Minds, one of the ways I explore healing and trauma is through Processwork: a therapeutic approach grounded in depth psychology, informed by ideas from physics, and with a deep respect for the complexity of human experience. Developed by Dr Arnold Mindell, who drew on his background as both a Jungian analyst and physicist, Processwork supports individuals in navigating both the known and unknown parts of themselves by following the natural flow of their experience.

Rather than focusing on fixed diagnoses or symptoms in isolation, Processwork asks: What is trying to emerge here? In this way, it welcomes not only our conscious stories but also our unconscious signals (such as body symptoms, dreams, emotions, conflicts, and even the flutters at the edge of awareness) as meaningful expressions of a larger inner process. It’s a therapy of deep noticing, of staying close to what arises in the moment, even if it’s unexpected, irrational, or difficult to make sense of at first.

The Unfolding Process

In Processwork, nothing is dismissed as irrelevant. Even contradictions or discomforts are seen as part of a greater unfolding. We don’t aim to ‘fix’ these moments; instead, we support them to express more fully. You might be saying one thing while your body shows something else. In Processwork, we call this a double signal. Rather than correcting or overriding it, we stay curious: what part of you has not yet had a voice? What is wanting to emerge? As I stay close to this therapeutic potential, I reflect what I notice, and together we develop awareness of your behaviours, patterns, goals, and moments of incongruence.

This is where psychological growth takes shape: in the movement between your everyday identity and the deeper signals that surface through cracks in awareness. These signals may appear as images from a dream, a tightness in the chest, a recurring pattern in your relationships, or a sudden emotional response that feels unfamiliar. Each of these experiences carries information, not as random noise but as meaningful data about your inner world. In therapy, I treat all of it as significant, both what emerges in the room, and how it echoes in the wider landscape of your life.

Working with Primary and Secondary Process

Processwork recognises two modes of experience: The primary process, which aligns with who we currently believe we are, and the secondary process, which includes the parts of us that are further from our current sense of identity. These may feel new, confronting, or even unwanted, but they are also where change and growth reside.

Therapy then becomes an invitation to move beyond the edge of what is familiar and explore what’s trying to become conscious. This might be a shy part of you, a repressed emotion, or a hidden dream. Processwork doesn’t push, it listens and follows.

For example, I am working with a young client who demonstrates her anger in vivid red through her Jungian art. Her body symptoms often burn hot in her chest, and together we uncovered that she directs much of her anger inward. This has caused difficulties in her relationships, as the emotions at the edge of her awareness remain trapped inside with nowhere to go. Through a Processwork lens, we can recognise this emotional pattern and begin to follow the small ways her inner world seeks expression, allowing it to become known and, when ready, processed. The aim is not for her to act out anger destructively, such as through destructive outbursts or emotional clinging, but to build awareness of her inner world so she does not act unconsciously from it. Without this view, we remain bound to old patterns of inhabiting our own skin and relating to others.

Body Symptoms, Dreams, and Signals

By approaching body symptoms and dreams as meaningful signals, we shift from asking “How do I get rid of this?” to “What is this trying to tell me?” This perspective transforms discomfort into dialogue. Instead of fighting against the pain or dismissing the dream, we lean in with curiosity. What if the symptom is not only a burden but also a messenger?

Signals can appear in subtle ways: a fleeting gesture, a sudden emotion, or a slip of the tongue. In everyday life, these moments might be overlooked. In therapy, they become threads to follow. They are invitations to pause and notice what is trying to come forward. When we attend to them, the body and the unconscious begin to speak in a language that connects the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of our lives.

This way of working honours the complexity of human experience. It acknowledges that our struggles are not random, and that even the most inconvenient or puzzling symptoms can carry wisdom. By following signals with patience and respect, we often discover resources we did not realise were there:  new ways of understanding ourselves, fresh directions for growth, and a deeper sense of wholeness. Carl Jung described this unfolding as individuation, the lifelong process of becoming more fully who we are and reaching our full potentiality.

Deep Democracy and a Holistic Model

At the heart of Processwork is the principle of deep democracy, the belief that all parts of our experience are welcome. This includes not only our conscious thoughts but also our emotions, impulses, dreams, body experiences, and even the parts of ourselves we try to reject. Nothing is too small or too strange to be noticed. For me, this resonates deeply with my studies in Buddhist psychology and methodology, where my teacher reminds me: “You are perfect just as you are.”

This outlook shapes the way I approach therapy, weaving together different traditions into a whole. Processwork is a central piece of my practice, yet I also recognise where it can feel slower or incomplete on its own. To balance this, I draw on Buddhist philosophy and psychology, particularly the knowledge and practice of mindfulness, and the recognition of how the mind can become caught in its own thought patterns. Together, these approaches support both depth and immediacy, allowing clients to explore their inner world while cultivating present-moment awareness and compassion for themselves.

I also draw on Jungian concepts, recognising that alongside primary and secondary processes we can all be overwhelmed at times by various complexes. These forces can feel like gravity, pulling us into a realm where we can be overtaken by complexes: emotional states we cannot easily step out of. In those moments, I hold a trauma-informed lens, knowing this framework is not explicitly built into Processwork. The biology of the brain and the impacts of trauma are too important to set aside, and so I listen to my clients’ stories with an ever-present trauma-awareness. My therapeutic aim is to help you remain within your window of tolerance, where difficult experiences can be processed without becoming destabilising (see my other article on my web page for more information on how I work with your trauma).

While Processwork is central to how I practice, I do not rely on it alone. Each person who comes to therapy brings a unique history, shaped by biology, trauma, relationships, family, and culture. Diagnosis can be useful as a map, but it is never the territory. To complement Processwork, I draw on Jungian approaches that explore dreams, symbols, and complexes; Steiner’s vision of lifespan development; and Buddhist philosophy, with its emphasis on mindfulness, compassion, and awareness of how the mind can become caught in its own patterns. 

Working holistically means recognising that no single model can capture the fullness of a human life. Sometimes the path forward is illuminated through Processwork’s focus on signals and unfolding processes. At other times, Jungian concepts or Buddhist teachings offer clarity, or Steiner’s vision of human development provides depth and context. By weaving these approaches together, I aim to create a therapeutic space that is responsive, flexible, and deeply respectful of the whole person. Ultimately, my role is to accompany you as you explore the richness of your inner world, supporting you to cultivate awareness, resilience, and a fuller expression of who you are: in therapy, and in life beyond it!