Darlena Dench, Ph.D.

10/02/2025

Do you resonate with the myth of Atlas, burdened by the weight of celestial spheres, while straddling worlds?
If so, you likely have an impressive track record for excellence. Those in your inner circle have learned to rely on you. Yet you don’t feel fully recognized anywhere. And deep down, you know that you can’t sustain it all much longer—you are burning out fast.
If you this sounds like you, know that you are not alone. And as an Atlas person you CAN find your inner compass, bridge worlds, share the burden, and live a soulful life.
DM me for a free consult to see if working with me feels like the right fit for you.

06/05/2023

Throwback to last year’s showcase with
The Wellspring Women's Collective, LLC

Meet Darlena! She is a certified hypnotherapist with a PhD in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology. A born counselor with an empathetic ear and keen analytic insight, she is a lifelong student of psyche and a mythologist who understands the tapestry of the world’s most potent archetypal stories and their underground connection to our lives.

Her background is uniquely blended to guide people toward discovering their ingenuity and making profound changes. She uses dreamwork, sandtray, writing/art exercises, imagery and/or authentic movement with hypnotherapy to help people tap into their unconscious inner resources, overcome past habits and achieve their goals.

Get to know Darlena better at https://thewellspringforwomen.com/darlena-dench and her social media posts featured throughout the month and specifically on Mondays in June. Please Like, share and comment on Darlena Dench, Ph.D.’s posts or reach out to her directly—she would love to hear from you!

06/29/2022

What is a Jungian Hypnotherapist? Dr. Dench answers: "The title, Jungian Hypnotherapist, describes my particular approach in assisting clients with their personal growth objectives. Bridging archetypal analysis and hypnotherapy, I help clients understand their personal narrative and transform their lives with increased ingenuity, healthier living and/or improved relationships.
The term “Jungian” refers to the theoretical perspective of psychiatrist, Carl G. Jung, and the lineage of depth psychologists who expanded upon Jung’s ideas and methodology. Jung took to heart the original meaning of the word “psychology,” with its Greek roots “logos” and “psyche,” which together translate as “word of the soul.” Soul is hard to define, but Jung felt it important that individuals attempt to understand and give definition to their personal essence—that unique quality of genius, which gives individuals their peculiar, multifaceted character and calling—in order to live a rich, meaningful, fulfilling and psychologically healthy life.
To be “Jungian," therefore, is to be interested in what is happening at a soul level. Jungian practitioners help people foster a healthy connection with the unconscious psyche, where the individual, idiosyncratic genius of soul can be discovered. They pay attention to dreams and look for patterns in the stories that clients share about their past and/or their day-to-day lives. Besides tending dreams, technique for connecting with the unconscious psyche may involve stimulating a creatively expressive state, through artwork or exercises such as “active imagination,” “authentic movement,” or “sandtray.”
Through decades of study (personally, academically and professionally), my approach in guiding clients is decidedly “Jungian.” This attentiveness to the “psyche” dovetails well with extensive training in hypnotherapy, where I learned additional techniques for connecting with the unconscious and creating pathways for deep learning. Few Jungian Analysts or Coaches have had training in contemporary hypnotic induction technique, however. And most Certified Hypnotherapists have but a cursory, if any, understanding of Jungian approaches. A Jungian Hypnotherapist blends Jungian and Hypnotherapeutic methods." "

06/29/2022

What education & training do you have? Darlena Dench, Ph.D. answers this question as part of her FAQ series:
"I have a B.A. in Psychology, and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, a grad school framed in the depth psychological tradition. My doctoral research looked into the elements involved in personal growth (that which psychologist C.G. Jung called “individuation” and James Hillman called “Soul-making). In addition, I have a diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy from Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), the first accredited college for Hypnotherapy, with the most comprehensive hypnotherapy education and residency program in the United States. I’m a member of a number of Jungian organizations, the Hypnotherapists Union Local 472 and the American Hypnosis Association, where I am regularly involved in continuing education."

06/27/2022

Why pay attention to dreams? Darlena Dench, Ph.D. answers this question as part of her FAQ series:
"To pay attention to dreams, with reverence, is to revive an ancient art that has been practiced for thousands of years, all over the globe, throughout all cultures and religious traditions. Why choose to revive this art of dream tending, instead of treating dreams, as many people do, as irrelevant? Because now, more than ever, there is great benefit from a renewed relationship with one’s dream life.
In our modern world, people tend to privilege the so-called “rational” mind and conscious “ego” awareness. There is a neglect of the deeper, unconscious mind, and the deeper self, which actually accounts for the vast majority of perception, judgement, motivation, and habitual, automatic behaviors. The unconscious “psyche” is also the source of imagination and creativity. While the rational mind and ego certainly aid survival and practical adaptation to our modern world, disregarding other aspects of psyche has painful consequences. Without a healthy relationship with the unconscious, we become powerless to anxiety, bouts of depression, addictions, and/or harmful impulses—and we tend to feel lost or adrift, disconnected from our own drive and personal potential. We feel disconnected from meaning or unable to truly enjoy and engage with life in the present moment. Working with dreams is one of the most powerful ways to create a connection with the unconscious and to tap into a wellspring of wisdom that exists outside ego awareness. Simply put: dreams provide answers to life’s challenges, through imagery, metaphor and symbolism. Tending to them broadens the imagination, stimulates creativity, and fosters greater self-awareness. Paying attention to dreams expands the mind beyond a merely rational intellect—and helps develop a more embodied and visionary intelligence. It is through dreams that we tap into our individual 'genius.'"

06/27/2022

What is Archetypal Analysis? Darlena Dench, Ph.D. answers this question as part of her FAQ series:
"Each of us is living a story, often quite unconsciously following a plot that follows certain patterns--seemingly inevitable twists of fate. We may, from time to time, step out of the story to notice familiar themes that repeat themselves, keeping us in a loop. Or we may even find ourselves feeling stuck in a tragedy that ill befits us, causing dissonance and dis-ease. “Archetypal Analysis” involves discerning the threads of the story you were meant to live, one that lives inside you in harmony with your soul’s purpose and innermost genius. In archetypal analysis, we acknowledge outdated, overgrown or inflated survival tactics and move toward the more meaningful story, the heroic journey, that calls to you from profound depths."

06/26/2022

While in hypnosis, can I be compelled to do or say things I don’t want to do or say? Darlena Dench, Ph.D. answers this question as part of her FAQ series:
"No. You will never be asked (and can never be asked) to do or say anything under hypnosis that is in conflict with your personal, ethical standards and/or wishes. In fact, your own natural protection (your ego) remains aware of everything that is happening so that you easily reject anything that, for any reason, is misaligned with your purpose. As your Hypnotherapist, my role is to assist you in achieving your therapeutic goals. I am acting as a guide and facilitator, while you remain in control."

06/26/2022

What does hypnosis feel like? Darlena Dench, Ph.D. () answers this question as part of her FAQ series:
"Hypnosis is a natural state. By purposely choosing to enter hypnosis for hypnotherapy purposes, you experience profound physical and mental relaxation and then return to an alert state feeling refreshed and revitalized. In hypnosis, you are *not* asleep. In fact, most people report an energizing experience and a clarity of focus. While experiences vary depending on personal learning style and/or mood of the day, the end result each time is an improved sense of wellbeing."

06/14/2022

*Interview with Darlena Dench, Ph.D. - part 3*
Wellspring Women's Collective provider and Certified Life Coach, Rachel Henderson interviews Dr. Dench.
In this segment (Part 3 of 3), Darlena shares information about her upcoming “Power of Self-Hypnosis" class.
Self-Hypnosis can be used to improve sleep, increase confidence, reduce stress, change habits, cultivate patience and much more! This class will show you how to use the 3 basic steps of Self-Hypnosis to connect with the unconscious and to achieve your personal and professional goals! Details are as follows:
* Online event via Zoom
* Sunday, August 7, 2022, 1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 a.m. Pacific
* 2-hour workshop
* Payment by donation: $1 and up ($122 value)
* Register at: www.darlenadench.com/workshops

06/07/2022

*Interview with Darlena Dench, Ph.D. - part 2*
Wellspring Women's Collective provider and Certified Life Coach, Rachel Henderson interviews Dr. Dench.
In this segment (Part 2 of 3), Darlena shares information about her upcoming “Language of Dreams” class.
In this workshop, you will gain insight as to the four greatest mistakes most people make when attempting to interpret their dreams, and learn what to do instead, in order to truly learn from the language of dreams. Participants of this interactive event are invited to bring a dream "snippet" (1-2 images or sentences) and to participate in tending each others dreams, once they learn the basics. Details are as follows:
* Sunday, July 10, 1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 am Pacific
* Online event via Zoom
* 2 hour workshop
* Payment by donation: $1 and up (value $122)
* Plus Bonus Gift: All attendees will receive a free 30-minute dream tending session (to be scheduled with Dr. Dench after the class).
* Register at: www.darlenadench.com/workshops

Any questions? Email darlena.dench@gmail.com

06/07/2022

Many thanks to Rachel Henderson interviewing me and The Wellspring Women's Collective, LLC for sharing this with their network. There is Part 1 of 3 where I talk a bit about my practice. Part 2 & 3 coming soon!

06/06/2022

Excited to be showcased by the The Wellspring Women's Collective, LLC 😊

Meet Darlena! She is a certified hypnotherapist with a PhD in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology. A born counselor with an empathetic ear and keen analytic insight, she is a lifelong student of psyche and a mythologist who understands the tapestry of the world’s most potent archetypal stories and their underground connection to our lives.

Her background is uniquely blended to guide people toward discovering their ingenuity and making profound changes. She uses dreamwork, sandtray, writing/art exercises, imagery and/or authentic movement with hypnotherapy to help people tap into their unconscious inner resources, overcome past habits and achieve their goals.

Get to know Darlena better at https://thewellspringforwomen.com/darlena-dench and her social media posts featured throughout the month and specifically on Mondays in June. Please Like, share and comment on Darlena Dench, Ph.D.’s posts or reach out to her directly—she would love to hear from you!