Foundations of Process Work

Process Work was created by Arnold Mindell in the late 1970s, originally stemming from his experiences as a Jungian analyst. Mindell noticed that his clients’ nighttime dreams often mirrored their physical experiences and symptoms. He expanded the idea of “dreaming” to include subtle body sensations, fantasies, spontaneous actions, and signals occurring during interactions, even when people aren’t fully aware of them.

Mindell’s background in physics encouraged him to perceive these subtle experiences as signals carrying important information. He called this broader awareness “dreaming,” incorporating perceptions, beliefs, and sensations that usually remain outside of conscious recognition.

Drawing deeply from Carl Jung’s psychological theories—particularly Jung’s concepts of the collective unconscious and archetypes—Mindell’s Process Work emerged as an evolution of Jungian psychology, integrating analytical methods with direct experiential practices.

A core contribution Mindell introduced was the concept of “Dreambody,” which sees dreams and physical symptoms as closely connected expressions of a deeper, ongoing process. This broader understanding highlights that all aspects of our experience—mental, physical, emotional—are part of a continually unfolding process.

The notion of “process” itself became central to Mindell’s approach, describing how each individual’s experiences evolve naturally over time. Within this dynamic process, Mindell differentiated between “primary processes,” which are familiar aspects of our identity, and “secondary processes,” which are less known or even alien to our conscious awareness but carry important potential for growth and integration.

Process Work specifically focuses on identifying and working with experiences that emerge through various channels of perception. Some experiences are easily recognized and integrated, while others remain subtle or hidden, seeking awareness and integration. By gently engaging these lesser-known aspects of experience, practitioners facilitate deeper awareness and personal transformation.

Expanding Awareness: From Dreaming to Unfolding

To help individuals explore and integrate these subtle experiences, Mindell developed a method called “unfolding.” Building upon Jungian amplification, traditional dream interpretation, and active imagination, he added practices that directly engage the body and physical movement. Influenced by Taoism and Eastern philosophies—which emphasize natural flow and spontaneity—as well as Vajrayana Buddhism, shamanism, and modern physics, unfolding supports a deep exploration of experiences from multiple perspectives, including physical sensations, emotional states, interpersonal relationships, and societal contexts.

Mindell introduced another significant concept known as “edges,” which represent psychological barriers or boundaries to awareness and personal growth. Edges help practitioners understand where individuals or groups encounter resistance or blocks in their development. Working with these edges helps foster transformation and self-awareness.

Worldwork: Applying Process Work in Groups and Communities

In the 1980s, Mindell and his colleagues made a significant breakthrough by recognizing that groups, organizations, and communities share the same essential nature of processes as individuals. Just as individuals have more familiar, represented parts of their identity (primary processes) and lesser-known, less integrated aspects (secondary processes), groups also embody these primary and secondary dimensions.
Group facilitation became more powerful through this insight, as facilitators recognized they could use their own awareness—both of external group dynamics and internal personal processes—to guide the group’s awareness toward embracing these secondary, less acknowledged parts. This approach, named “Worldwork,” became an influential framework for addressing collective processes, conflict resolution, community building, and social transformation.

How Process Work is Used Today

Process Oriented Psychology, or Process Work, has become widely valued for its practical versatility in multiple domains. At its core, Process Work emphasizes seeing every experience—whether subtle sensations, physical symptoms, dreams, emotional states, interpersonal conflicts, or social tensions—as inherently valuable and meaningful. Practitioners utilize this perspective to deeply engage with these experiences, revealing insights and fostering transformative growth.

In psychotherapy, Process Work guides individuals through complex emotional landscapes, helping them integrate subtle feelings and unresolved tensions. In mental health settings, practitioners support clients navigating altered states, severe emotional disturbances, and even coma states, recognizing the meaningful nature of these challenging experiences.

In organizational contexts, Process Work methods facilitate dialogue and awareness, addressing underlying issues and supporting sustainable growth and development. Conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives benefit from the principles of Deep Democracy, ensuring inclusive and transformative outcomes. Community-building projects draw on Process Work’s strengths to encourage multicultural dialogues and foster genuine connection and understanding among diverse groups.

Additionally, Process Work enriches artistic expression by encouraging artists to explore subtle and previously unrecognized dimensions of their creative processes, enhancing both artistic depth and authenticity. Across these diverse applications, the fundamental commitment to Deep Democracy ensures all voices and experiences contribute to comprehensive transformation.