Joel Crichton

Jungian Analyst in Private Practice in Victoria, Canada.Author of Jungian Shakespeare and The Story Always ThinksMultidisciplinary creator.

What is Jungian Analysis?Analysis is a form of therapy, sometimes called depth therapy or depth psychology. It’s called “depth” because, rather than focusing mostly on relieving symptoms or solving immediate problems, analysis turns toward the longer-term and more ingrained patterns, repetitive conflicts, and possibilities that shape a person’s life.The idea of the unconscious may sound intimidating, but all it really means is that there is a lot more going on within us at any one time than we are consciously aware of.Understanding a situation is key to knowing what to do about it, and so at its heart, analysis is a process of self-understanding. When we understand ourselves better, and have better relationships with ourselves, we often find that the problems that used to trouble us pass away, or no longer come up anymore.Many people come to analysis because of mental or emotional pain, confusion, or repeating difficulties. But just as often, people seek analysis when they sense there is more to themselves—a wider range of feeling, creativity, or meaning—that they want to access.

More information on analysis is below, but if you're interested, please feel free to contact me with this form:

How does analysis work?Analysis unfolds in conversation, led by the patient. Patient and analyst meet regularly, and together they follow the thread of whatever seems to be important to discuss that day—an experience, a memory, a plan, a dream—anything, essentially. Often things that first appear unimportant or disconnected can, over time, reveal patterns and truths that have been shaping our experiences of life.The analyst does not stand outside the process as a distant expert. Instead, the relationship itself can become an essential part of the work. We all have patterns of relating to others, and these patterns tend to show up in the analytic relationship as well. This is helpful, because analysis is a setting where these patterns can be worked with, understood and, eventually, lived differently.The training of an analystAnalysts are trained in a way that sets this work apart from many other therapies. Becoming an analyst requires many years of supervised clinical practice, along with sustained analysis of one’s own inner life. Over the course of training, analysts undertake hundreds of hours of both supervision and personal analysis. This allows the analyst not only to understand theory, but also to recognize and work with unconscious processes as they emerge in the therapeutic process.Who is analysis for?Analysis can be valuable for anyone who wants to engage deeply with themselves, to understand the sources of their struggles, or to discover what feels blocked, missing, or unexpressed. Some enter analysis when other therapies have felt too short-term or too narrowly focused. Others come because they sense the unconscious has something important to say, and they want help listening.What can be expected?Analysis tends to be a longer-term commitment than many other therapies. Change is not always quick, but it can be lasting. By creating a space where unconscious material is welcomed—whether it comes through dreams, unexpected feelings, or anything else—analysis opens the possibility of transformation that is not just about managing symptoms, but about living in fuller alignment with oneself.Further readingEvidence shows that changes made through this kind of therapy are often superior and longer lasting than other forms of psychotherapy If you’re interested in the efficacy and relevancy of this approach, here are some places to start:Scientific American - Talk Therapy: Off the Couch and Into the LabAmerican Psychological Association - Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Brings Lasting Benefits Through Self-KnowledgeDr. Mark Winborn - Comparing Psychodynamic Therapies with CBT and MedicationBehavioural Sciences - Evidence for the Effectiveness of Jungian PsychotherapyDr. Jonathan Shedler – The Efficacy of Psychodynamic PsychotherapyDr. Jonathan Shedler – Getting Started in Psychotherapy: A Guide for Patients (and their Therapists)

UPCOMINGJungian Shakespeare
• Psychosocial Wednesdays — October 14, 2026The King of the End of the World: Shakespeare's Henriad and the Archetypes of King and Apocalyse
• C. G. Jung Institut-Zürich — Wednesday, October 21
• The C. G. Jung Institute of San Francisco (Online)— November 14, 1-3PM PSTThe Power of the Bond: Shakespeare and the Archetype of the Promise
• Guild of Pastoral Psychology, UK — January 16, 2027PASTCreativity and Risk: Myths of Māui (2026)
4 week course taught for the Jung Society of Washington, D.C.GIVE ME LIFE! Vital Force in Shakespeare (2025)
Conference presentation, IAJS Online Conference 2025The King of the End of the World: Shakespeare's Henriad and the Archetypes of King and Apocalyse (2025)
Performance lecture given for The Kristine Mann Library, JITZ, and IAJS.The Magic Circle: Psychology of Gaming, Games, and Gamers (2023)
Presentation given for Seattle, Victoria, and Comox Valley Jung Societies

Jungian Shakespeare (Routledge, 2025)
An original work of Jungian literary criticism, examining the psychological expression within three plays from different times in Shakespeare’s career through a Jungian framework.A captivating book that manages to bridge the distance between theory and practice in a carefully studied and personal reading of three of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic plays. I shall welcome this book to my own library and certainly recommend it to my students - it provides so many untouched keys to meaning and power . . .It rewards anyone dedicated to thinking about Shakespeare in new ways, and exploring their potency through their mystery.-Peter Hinton-Davis, O.C.This interdisciplinary work appeals to Jungian analysts, psychotherapists, theatre practitioners, Shakespeare scholars, and enthusiasts of literature and theatre, as well as anyone interested in the connections between Jungian psychology and Shakespeare.Learn more

PUBLICATIONS

ABOUT

Joel Crichton is a Jungian Psychoanalyst, living and practicing in Victoria BC. If you are looking for psychotherapy or analysis, please fill out the contact form here.He is the author of the book Jungian Shakespeare, and runs the semi-regular The Story Always Thinks, writing film criticism from a Jungian perspective.His work has been recognized by the Kristine Mann Library of New York City, and he was awarded the 2023 Kristine Mann Research Award for his work on Shakespeare.Formerly a theatre and music professional, he has worked as an actor, director, playwright, composer, and producer for dozens of productions. In 2015, his musical for young audiences The Antyssey, co-written with Richard Lee Hsi, won two Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards. In 2016, he won the award for Best Actor at the Portsmouth, UK International Film Festival for his role in Year After Year.For many years he taught musical improvisation with Edmonton's Rapid Fire Theatre, developing a successful curriculum that many students chose to repeat multiple times. As an improviser with RFT, he shared the stage with some of the world's best international acts, including from Norway, England, Chicago, NYC, Portland, Japan, Italy, and Columbia.Education
Diploma in Analytical Psychology, C. G. Jung Institut-Zürich
Master of Psychotherapy & Spirituality, St. Stephen's College
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, University of Alberta
Diploma in Acting, Red Deer CollegeMemberships
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCPA)
Member of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP)
Member of the Pan-Canadian Society for Analytical Psychology (PCSAP-SPCPA)
Member of the International Association for Jungian Studies (IAJS)

The best way to get in touch with me is through the form below.

The best way to get in touch with me is through the form below.