Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales: A Journey with Dr. Pearl Brock

Insights from Our Clinical Director

At Think Well, my clinical and academic work has long been guided by a simple yet profound question: how do we come to understand ourselves when ordinary language fails? My doctoral research grew directly from this inquiry and from years of sitting with clients whose inner lives could not be captured through symptom lists or diagnostic shorthand.

The Role of Fairy Tales in Therapy

Fairy tales emerged not as a literary indulgence but as a rigorous and ethically grounded method for psychological inquiry, reflection, and change. Fairy tale writing and analysis offer a symbolic language that allows the psyche to speak indirectly. In therapy, this indirectness is not avoidance; it is often the most honest route available.

When a client writes or tells a fairy tale, they are not merely reporting facts. They are revealing structure, pattern, conflict, longing, fear, and possibility. The story becomes a psychological space where the unsayable can be approached safely. Characters, landscapes, monsters, helpers, and transformations are not metaphors imposed by the therapist. They arise organically from the individual psyche and carry both personal and archetypal meaning.

Jungian Psychology and Symbolic Communication

This work is deeply informed by Jungian psychology, particularly the understanding that the unconscious communicates symbolically. Carl Jung observed that the psyche does not argue or explain; it shows. Fairy tales operate in this showing mode. They bypass intellectual defenses and invite engagement at an imaginal level where insight is felt before it is understood.

Within my PhD research, I explored how fairy tale writing allows clients to encounter aspects of the self that are split off, bound in shame, or held at a developmental distance. The tale becomes a container for these elements, allowing them to enter the therapeutic space without overwhelming it.

The Importance of Honest Expression

In practice, I do not ask clients to write well. I ask them to write honestly. Grammar, structure, and literary skill are irrelevant. What matters is the movement of the story—where it begins, where it stalls, and whether it is allowed to end. Many clients discover that their tales repeatedly circle the same forest, tower, ocean, or threshold.

These recurring images are not coincidences. They reflect psychological tasks that have not yet been completed. Through gentle analysis and reflective dialogue, the story can be returned to, rewritten, or simply understood differently. Change often follows not because the story is fixed, but because it has finally been witnessed.

Clinical Governance and Ethical Practice

From a clinical governance perspective, fairy tale work is neither unstructured nor whimsical. My research situates it firmly within psychodynamic and narrative traditions, supported by reflective practice, supervision, and ethical containment. The fairy tale does not replace therapy; it deepens it.

It provides a shared object that therapist and client can explore together, reducing defensiveness and supporting psychological safety. For many clients, particularly those who struggle with direct emotional articulation, this approach offers a sense of agency and authorship that is profoundly reparative.

Educational Impact and Symbolic Literacy

At Think Well, this work informs both individual therapy and my wider educational and supervisory roles. Trainees often report that engaging with fairy tale writing sharpens their symbolic literacy, enhances their capacity to tolerate not knowing, and strengthens their ability to listen beyond content to underlying meaning.

In an increasingly outcome-driven mental health culture, fairy tale analysis offers a counterbalance. It reminds us that depth, complexity, and imagination are not luxuries; they are central to psychological life.

The Enduring Power of Fairy Tales

Ultimately, fairy tales endure because they mirror the human condition. They speak of exile and belonging, loss and return, danger and transformation. My doctoral work affirms that when these stories are invited into the therapeutic space with care and respect, they become powerful tools for understanding differently. Not as fantasy, but as a disciplined engagement with the symbolic truths that shape who we are and who we might yet become.

If this way of working resonates with you, whether as a client, clinician, or student, it reflects an openness to meeting the psyche on its own terms. At Think Well, that meeting is always the beginning of meaningful work.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey

In conclusion, the journey of understanding ourselves through fairy tales is profound. It invites us to explore the depths of our psyche and engage with our inner narratives. By embracing this method, we can uncover hidden truths and foster personal growth.

Fairy tales are not just stories; they are pathways to self-discovery and healing. They remind us that our experiences, no matter how complex, can be articulated through the language of symbols and imagination.

Let us continue to explore these narratives together, as we embark on a journey of understanding and transformation.