Dr. Carrie Sword
- PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Jungian Therapist
- Twenty-Seven Years of Experience
My Background
As a child, I loved stories, music, poetry, and riding around the neighborhood on my bike like a bat out of hell. As a young adult, I got a bachelor’s degree in English from South Dakota State University (https://www.sdstate.edu/school-english-interdisciplinary-studies), and then worked as a journalist, long before ever becoming a Jungian therapist.
Later, I started a master’s in English, but dreams and synchronicities pointed me toward a master’s in psychology. So I switched. I earned an MA in counseling psychology from the University of South Dakota (https://www.usd.edu/Academics/Graduate-Programs/Counseling) in 1994. I also engaged in my own inner work, guided by a Jungian mentor. Dreamwork really spoke to me, and I’ve been trying to listen ever since.
I like integrating creative modalities—like painting, ceramics, dance/movement and writing –into the therapy process. I love leading dream groups in psychodrama, a process of dialoging with dreams by dramatizing them. For relaxation, I like spending time in nature, especially wilderness areas of North America.
I’m a reviewer of articles for the scholarly and multidisciplinary journal, Dreaming, published by the International Association for the Study of Dreams under the editorial leadership of Harvard professor Deirdre Barrett. (https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/drm/index)
I worked as a faculty member in the College of Education at the University of Minnesota before going into private practice full-time.
My dissertation research, conducted in conjunction with Capella University and the University of Minnesota, investigated the relationship between spiritual well-being and participation in a Dream Appreciation Group in the style of psychiatrist Montague Ullman (See Research/Jungian Psychotherapy for a more detailed description of this model).
I received a PhD in clinical psychology from Capella University in 2003. I’m licensed by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, and certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). My profile is listed on Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/dr-carrie-sword-jungian-psychotherapist-minneapolis-mn/455115) and Goodtherapy.org (https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/carrie-sword-20100117). My credentials are also verified by both of those organizations.
In addition, I’m a member of the Minnesota Holistic Nurses Association (an affiliation of holistic practitioners and nurses) https://www.minnhna.org/about and WellConnectedTwinCities (a network of integrative and holistic health service providers) https://wellconnectedtwincities.com/about/
My Approach to Therapy
The therapy process first involves talking about whatever you bring to the table. We might start with a life problem, a symptom, a relationship issue, or a dream. By listening while conversing, we may hear nuances, stuck points, or reactions that point to a deeper layer.
The story or symbols of a dream may constellate an ah-ha. Conversation after conversation, the previously unconscious layers of the psyche become perceptible. Maybe some patterns emerge. Archetypal patterns and complexes become easier to recognize. Relationships between symbols, patterns, reactions and perceptions spark more ability to see in the dark.
When you can see and feel more of what’s happening inside, you may develop greater objectivity—the ability to see your own reactions, analyze them, and decide how to respond—rather than acting on reactions instantly. Sometimes the effort and devotion required in inner work catalyzes internal stability, a kind of centeredness.
This is all a collaborative process between three minds—mine, yours, and the deep mind of your innermost self. Jung called this part the Self, and he said it’s the wellspring of dreams. It could be called by many names, but it’s a source of wisdom beyond the ego. If you remember dreams and want to work with them, you could keep a dream journal.
Restructuring personality can include journeying through symptoms, rather than attacking them as an enemy. Often, a symptom is a message that your psyche is out of balance and needs your attention. A symptom may signal that energy is trapped in your unconscious mind because an unknown aspect of yourself wants to be a part of your life. It’s as if that part is knocking on the inner door saying, “Hey! Listen—I’ve got something to offer and I’m sick of being stuck inside!”
Addressing this kind of problem can bring much relief, both in terms of alleviating the symptom, and in knowing that this type of problem can ultimately bring positive results. People I’ve worked with have been astonished at how much they changed, and how this caused them to experience life from their depths.
