I recently had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Jungian analyst Erica Lorentz to discuss her profound new work, Body is Shadow: Jung’s Method of Embodied Healing. Many intellectually gifted and highly sensitive individuals often live very much “in our heads.” This conversation was a vital reminder of what happens when we bridge that gap between our soaring intellects and our physical, felt experiences.
The “Subtle Body” and Sensitivity
We began by deconstructing the concept of the “subtle body”—the bridge between the physical and the psychic. For the neurodivergent and the highly sensitive, the world often feels like “too much” because our bodies are processing information at a higher frequency. Erica shared how her work, which has been germinating since 1997, views the body not just as a biological machine, but as a vessel for our unconscious history and archetypal energy.
We tried to ground Erica’s Jungian insights into something that resonates with our scientifically curious minds. We touched on the “left-brain, right-brain” framework; while I noted that modern neuroscience often views this as an oversimplification, Erica used it as a powerful metaphor for how we prioritize linear, logical thought over the holistic, non-verbal wisdom of the body. We explored how the “shadow”—the parts of ourselves we have repressed or ignored—often manifests as physical tension, illness, or chronic “stuckness.”
Why “Just Thinking” Isn’t Enough
We challenged the idea that we can simply “behavioralize” our way out of trauma. While many of us appreciate the efficiency of CBT or Pavlovian conditioning, Erica argued convincingly for the necessity of looking back at our childhood “core complexes.” We discussed how early wounds are literally “stored” in our physiology. To truly heal, we cannot just talk about the past; we must learn to inhabit the body where those memories live.
Practical Integration and Active Imagination
Erica provided a beautiful entry point for those of us who find traditional meditation difficult. Instead of trying to “clear” the mind, she suggests a form of active imagination where we listen to the body’s symptoms as if they were voices. If your chest feels tight or your breath is shallow, what is that sensation trying to say? It’s about moving from “What is wrong with me?” to “What is my body trying to express?”
For those feeling disconnected from their inner life, Erica suggests noticing what makes you feel alive and exploring your senses through simple presence rather than formal meditation.
Conclusion
We concluded with the idea that wholeness requires us to bring the shadow into the light of our physical awareness. It was a reminder that for the highly sensitive person, your greatest vulnerability—your deep receptivity—is also your greatest path to healing. I hope this conversation encourages you to treat your body not as a secondary thought to your mind, but as a wise partner in your journey toward integration.
Until next time,
About Erica
Erica Lorentz, M.Ed., L.P.C. is a Jungian Analyst (IAAP) with forty years of clinical experience. Since 1988, she has lectured and taught classes and workshops throughout the US and in Canada. She has been a training analyst since 1998 (presently at the C. G. Jung Institute of New England). She does individual, couples, and group work. While she has a deep and varied clinical background, she is deeply interested in what dreams, emotions, physical symptoms, and the inner imaginal realms are trying to teach her clients. She believes that anxiety, depression, anger, compulsion, illness, PTSD, etc. are all the body/psyche’s way of drawing our awareness to how we need to grow. Erica’s training and personal experience with verbal and non-verbal/embodied processes enable her to facilitate access to and understanding of the conversation between our conscious and unconscious, and between our body/mind/soul.
Erica’s Website: https://ericalorentz.com/
The book: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Shadow-Method-Embodied-Healing/dp/1800134061
Imi Lo is an independent consultant who has dedicated her career to helping emotionally intense and highly sensitive people turn their depth into strength. She has written three books with Hachette: Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity, The Gift of Intensity, and The Gift of Empathy.
Imi holds three master's degrees in Mental Health, Buddhist Studies, and Global Cultures, alongside training in philosophical counseling, Jungian psychology, and other modalities. Her multicultural perspective has been enriched by living and working across the UK, Australia, and Asia, including with organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders and the NHS (UK). Throughout her career, she has served as a psychotherapist, art therapist, suicide crisis social worker, mental health supervisor, and trainer for mental health professionals.
You can contact Imi for a one-to-one consulting session tailored to your specific needs.