Storywell

07/18/2024

The idea that we all have a psychological shadow is growing in popularity today. And for good reason—the realm of the unknown, within ourselves and our lives, is a catalyst for growth. In our work bringing together archetype and type through the PMAI® and MBTI® assessments, we have discovered that “shadow” is a multi-dimensional reality. In our work with people, we found various aspects of shadows: those from overuse of gifts and underuse of latent qualities—shadows from stress, projection, and those things that confound or mystify us.

In this month’s article, Dr. Kesstan Blandin and Dr. Yvonne Nelson-Reid present the insights they’ve gained through conducting archetype and type workshops. They cover strengths, gifts, and Allies; various types of shadow elements in the psyche; and how to lean into archetypal flexibility to develop potential that is accessible just outside our area of focus.

This is the third article in a four-part series discussing the relationships between the theories of the PMAI® and MBTI® instruments. Following two previous articles that discussed the ways the theories of archetype and type converge and diverge, as well as the empirical correlations between the t...

06/20/2024

Two of C. G. Jung’s most popular ideas are personality type and archetypes. Each one brings valuable and deep insight into our personalities, the way we live our lives, and instructs us on how to build a more meaningful life.

This month’s article on Storywell is the second in a series that takes a deep dive into the relationship between archetypes and type through the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator® and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instruments. In the first article of the series, Kesstan Blandin, PhD, discussed how the theories of personality type and archetypes are similar and different. This month, Dr. Blandin presents the results from a large correlational study that analyzed the relationship between the two assessments.

This is the second article in a four-part series, by Kessstan Blandin, PhD, discussing the relationships between Jung’s theories of archetypes and psychological types, as assessed by the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator® and Myers-Brigg Type Indicator® instruments, respectively. The first articl...

05/23/2024

The summer season is about to begin, and it’s time to get our reading lists fulfilled. If you are into self-knowledge and self-growth through archetypes, personality type, and story, we have some suggestions for you!

Find the latest books by PMAI® assessment authors and experts Carol Pearson, PhD, and Hugh Marr, PhD, on Storywell. For insights into professional applications of archetypes, look up books by two exceptional PMAI practitioners: Pat Adson, PhD, and David Huling. Their books detail how to bring the PMAI system into counseling and executive coaching.
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04/18/2024

Practically everyone has heard of C. G. Jung’s ideas of psychological (personality) type and archetypes, represented in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator® assessments, respectively. Each system brings insights into personality and self-knowledge that are both practical and nuanced.

Jungian author John Giannini once said that the failure to holistically harmonize Jung’s ideas of psychological type with archetypes was the central cause that split the Jungian family. In this month’s article, Kesstan Blandin, PhD, begins to explore the relationships between type and archetype through an analysis of the theories underlying the PMAI® and MBTI® assessments. Next month, we will follow up on this conversation with empirical research we have conducted with these two tools.

Though archetypes (PMAI) and personality type (MBTI) express different aspects of one's personality, one fluid and one fixed, together they bestow a depth of self-understanding. This month, Kesstan Blandin, PhD, distinguishes the contrasting nature of these two systems and how they ground or emphasi...

03/21/2024

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting an article about Dr. Carol Pearson’s original theory of the 12 Jungian archetypes—an idea that has spread over the globe! Read how Dr. Pearson built her novel idea on Jung’s theory of archetypes and Joseph Campbell’s idea of the Hero’s Journey, generating one of the most popular archetype systems in the world.

In this article, Kesstan Blandin provides basic definitions and distinctions between C.G. Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Carol Pearson�s work on archetypes as a way to deepen your understanding of the PMAI� archetypes.

02/15/2024

What if someone could help you apply your results on the PMAI® assessment to understand the story patterns in your whole life? And what if that wisdom was shared with you in an easy-to-read workbook by a brilliant psychologist who applies insights from narrative therapy and Jungian psychology? Would you want to read it?


Good news! Carol S. Pearson, PhD, tells us in this month’s article on Storywell, there is such a book! It is Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey (2023) by Hugh K. Marr. Carol S. Pearson—PMAI instrument co-author and author of What Stories Are You Living?—offers her insights and enthusiasm for Hugh K. Marr’s newest book.

Hugh K. Marr's new book, Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey (2023), is a workbook that can help you see some parts of your life very differently than before. Carol. S. Pearson, who, together with Hugh K. Marr, created the PMAI instrument, gives a review and writes ab...

01/18/2024

David Hulings often begins his professional development group workshops with a question: How do you build trust with someone? He finds that people rarely give the answer he’s looking for: it depends on the trust style of the person we’re in a relationship with. Decoding that trust style using the 12 PMAI archetypes is the topic of David’s newest book, “TRUST! Using Archetypal Language to Repair Broken Trust” (2023).

We begin the new year with an article by David on how to understand and identify the trust styles of each archetype. Once we do this, we can more easily build trust with our colleagues and all the important people in our lives.

We begin the new year with an article by author and speaker David J. Hulings on how to understand and identify the trust styles of each archetype. Hulings, in his newest book TRUST!, introduces a unique trust language to build trust and transform our mindset towards trust. Understanding archetypal i...

12/14/2023

Happy Holidays from all of us at Storywell!

No matter what holiday tradition you observe, the Holiday Season ushers in the annual archetypal symbol of Rebirth. This is the time to evaluate our lives and determine what stays and what does not, to generate gratitude for what we have and excitement for what may come.

If you still have people on your gift list, keep in mind that Storywell offers for the seekers of self-growth in your life a gift of the PMAI® Core or Expanded Report.

May you experience ease in letting go of what no longer serves you, and may the hope and potential of 2024 pull you forward with excitement!

11/16/2023

Every season has archetypal energy and symbolism—the renewal and innocence of Spring, the daring and potential of Summer. Autumn radiates with the abundance and gratitude of the Harvest. The essence of this image is captured in the Thanksgiving holiday. As we move closer towards the solitude and wisdom of Winter, we gather to share and recognize the bounty of goodness in our lives.

As we start to prepare for the holiday season, keep in mind that Storywell offers unique gifts. For the seekers of self-growth in your life, you can gift them the PMAI® Core or Expanded Report. We also offer two books by the authors of the PMAI® assessment. Carol Pearson’s What Stories Are You Living? Discover Your Archetypes – Transform Your Life! and Hugh Marr’s just-released book, Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Story. People interested in personal growth and professionals who work in people development will find these books valuable. Go to Storywell or Amazon to purchase.

All of us at Storywell are grateful that you are a part of our community. Happy Thanksgiving!

10/26/2023

Hugh K. Marr, PhD, co-author of the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator® instrument, releases his new book this month, Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey. Hugh is often heard to say, “Change your story, change your life.” As a narrative psychotherapist, he works to empower people by discovering, claiming, and transforming their stories.


Through years of working with clients to transform their lives, Marr has developed an original process that goes layer by layer through your psyche’s stories. This process is captured in Finding Your Story, a guidebook with interactive exercises and lots of reflection prompts that incorporates your PMAI® archetypes into your foundational life stories as you create your way to your core archetypal story.

Anyone actively engaged in self-growth, as well as counselors, therapists, and coaches, will find this guidebook insightful and helpful.

Go to Storywell or Amazon to purchase Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey.

The Storywell concept and image brings together the archetypes of Story and Well. It is meant to invoke the experience of a mysterious deep well where universal stories and dramas of human lives dwell. The source that feeds this well is like an underground stream. Jung called this source the collect...

09/21/2023

Hugh K. Marr, PhD, narrative psychotherapist and co-author of the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator is publishing a new book in October! Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey contains a collection of exercises that guide you through the foundational stories of your identity and life, leading you to the archetypal life story at the core. Read more about how transforming your stories can transform your life in this month's article.

Weaving the PMAI archetypes throughout a deep dive into the stories a life is built on, Marr is a trusted and imaginative guide. The exercises build on one another, revealing the complexity and nuance of our life stories. Join the Storywell mailing list to be notified of the book release and upcoming events.

Re-enchant your life and transform your life story! Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey, the exciting upcoming guidebook by psychologist Hugh K. Marr, PhD, will guide you through the stages of your own life stories to discover the mythic and symbolic realms hidden wit...

08/17/2023

What is the story of your life, and how many do you have? According to narrative psychotherapist and co-author of the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator®, Hugh K. Marr, PhD, we live out many layered stories. In his newest book, "Finding Your Story: Using Archetypes to Guide Your Personal Journey," Marr leads us through the realms of stories contained in a life.


Read an excerpt from Marr’s book, explore the cultural and emotional settings in the stages of your foundational life stories, assign archetypal characters to important people in your life, and map out the heroic dream self. These are just a few of the exercises Marr leads us through in Finding Your Story, while also imparting stories of his own and myths to demonstrate the power of story. Counselors, therapists, coaches, and individuals exploring their journey of transformation and individuation will find Marr's new book a useful guide for years.

Journey between the realm of reality and imagination and come face-to-face with the unconscious stories you have inherited. In his upcoming book, Hugh K Marr, Ph.D., using the 12 Pearson-Marr archetypes, leads you down a mythic and symbolic path to find your own archetypal story.