Effectiveness of Jungian psychotherapy in supervised training settings

Jungian psychotherapy (JP) is an established treatment modality in modern healthcare systems, yet empirical validation remains a key requirement for its continued recognition and insurance coverage. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of JP by evaluating pre- and post-treatment changes in psychological symptoms, personality structure, and quality of life among 104 participants undergoing supervised therapy at a German training institute. Using a pre-post design, participants completed standardized psychometric assessments, including the International Classification of Diseases – 10th Revision (ICD-10) Symptom Rating (ISR), the Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit (FLZ; Life Satisfaction Questionnaire), and the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis - Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SQ), before and after therapy. Results from paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests indicated significant improvements across multiple domains. Participants experienced notable reductions in symptom burden, particularly in depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (d=0.555 to d=1.174). Improvements were also observed in self-perception, interpersonal contact, and relational experiences. However, eating disorder symptoms did not show significant improvement (p=.275), likely due to the need for specialized interventions. Future research should employ randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and long-term follow-ups to establish the durability of treatment effects.