It is unbelievable what familial severity lays on the Quarles children. But I learned a lot from you, which will help other people. Therefore, I always think of you with gratitude.
Yours Faithfully, C.G. Jung (Document no. 8, Jung- Reichstein Letters – Pictures Archive – C.G. Jung Institute – Zürich)
Jung wrote in a letter that he was grateful with what he learnt from Reichstein’s case and considered her material as exemplary, using it in different publications on important themes in his theory. The case of Maggy Reichstein has a special place in his clinical practive. She was the only patient Jung mentioned in his notes in the Black Books and Jung related Reichstein as an example of his clinical practice in different publications. The importance of Reichstein's case can be seen, for example, when he quotes that he got entangled in the transference with Reichstein and his dream showed the need for him to re-evaluate his attitude towards her. In this passage it is clear that Reichstein's case was a crucial element in Jung's understanding of the process of transference and counter-transference.
Jung used her case to demonstrate the problems of a one-sided development of the intellect and how it can be transformed by the occurrence of synchronistic events. He also presented mandalas painted by her as examples of the emergence of symbols of the Self during analytic treatment.
In addition, Jung reported that he did not understand the images in Reichstein's dreams, pictures and symptons. He understood them only after identifying parallels between them and Eastern symbolism. Reichstein’s case caught his attention and deepened his interest in the relationship between Eastern and Western psychology. Particularly interesting was a synchronistic event in Reichstein's case that impressed Jung and he claimed that nothing comparable happened to him afterwards.
Finally, in his article "Realities of Practical Psychotherapy", Jung used her case to demonstrate how a doctor's lack of knowledge can impact on psychological treatment and emphasised the importance that one does not become rigidly fixated on methods in an analytic treatment. He concludes this text by pointing out that fantasies and symptoms can be understood symbolically, as a process of further development and not just as pathological events.
This presentation is about the story of a case of C.G. Jung, which was published a few years ago (de Moura, Vicente L. - 2019 - Two Cases From Jung’s Clinical Practice - Routledge: London). In it, one can get to know Jung personally and better understand his way of practising psychotherapy. Based on historical documents and interviews with people who knew Jung and Reichstein, the presentation will give an insight into crucial concepts of his theory, a case that challenged him because he did not understand the remarkable images and events she brought to him.