The Wounded Healer

Healing others through your wounds

Among many other things, Carl Jung established the archetype of the “Wounded Healer”. Based on the myth of the centaur Chiron, Jung talked about those who become therapists because they recognize their own wounds.

Chiron was a centaur who was raised by Apollo. He was unlike other centaurs who were using brute force and were known to be constantly drunk and not very bright. Apollo taught Chiron the arts of healing, music, and prophesy. Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, taught him archery. In Greek, Chiron’s name means someone who is skilled with their hands. Chiron became a very popular tutor. Some of his students were Asclepius (the god of medicine), Achilles, Theseus, and Jason.

According to the myth, Chiron was accidentally wounded by one of Hercules’ poisoned arrows. Since Chiron was immortal he couldn’t die, but he couldn’t heal his wound either, despite being skilled in healing the wounds of others.

Jung took this myth and talked about the traumas and our inner wounds that lead us to introversion. In this context, introversion means to look within oneself (not to be confused with the personality trait of the introverts).

Just like Chiron, who spread his knowledge about healing because he was the one who needed it the most, Jung said that the therapists are inspired by their wounds and become shining lights that guide others to healing.

The Wounded Healer is now an archetype. This means that it became a broadly applicable term (not only for therapists). According to Marie Louise Von Franz, one of his closest colleagues, “the wounded healer is the archetype of the Self [our wholeness, the God within] and is at the bottom of all genuine healing procedures.”

Eventually, Chiron decided to give up his life in exchange for the release of Prometheus, the Titan who was punished by Zeus for giving fire to humans. Hercules, who found Prometheus and wanted to free him, gave the opportunity to Chiron to be freed from his pain.

Since Chiron had the power of foreseeing the future, he knew that he would be wounded. This was corroborated by one of his daughters, who also had the gift of prophesy. The act of giving up his life to save another, placed Chiron among the stars in the sky.

According to Jung and post-Jungian scholars, we know what awaits us when we can tap into our unconscious. Also, knowing about our inter-generational trauma history helps us foresee, in a way, our own difficulties in life. Just like Chiron knew what awaited him.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious it will direct your life and you will call it fate” C. G. Jung

Jung also warned about ego inflation due to the “wounded healer” archetype. He was right. There are many people who boast about being “wounded healers”, but in reality they are just wounded individuals whose wounds cause pain to others.

It takes a lot of work to be in constant touch with the unconscious (for example, through dreams) in order to not fall into the trap of ego inflation and believe that you can heal everyone’s trauma because you’ve been through trauma yourself.

Jung advised that the therapists (and, as an extension, anyone who identifies with the wounded healer archetype) should follow the example of Chiron. He didn’t boast about his wound, and he didn’t make a spectacle of his sacrifice.

Being humble through conscious awareness is perhaps one of the most crucial steps if you want to help others.

In the article that will follow, I intend to expand on how we can best help others when we feel that we “know what they’re going through”. Until then, I leave you with one more quote of Jung about seeking the light within.

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” C. G. Jung

You can now read part 2 here.

This article was inspired by Natalie’s comment in my article about living with OCPD, with regards to being able to empathize with others or know what they’re going through.

Mick Gibson’s story helped me see how I needed to introduce the subject. Do yourself a favor and watch the video he’s embedded. You won’t regret it.