• INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

The Unseen Within: Why Our Need for Control Makes Us Fear the Unconscious

• Lakeshore Psychotherapy Group

• August 14, 2025

We live in an age of hyper-rationality, where scientific explanations often take center stage in understanding the human experience. While advancements in neuroscience and genetics have undoubtedly shed light on the complexities of the brain and behavior, there’s a risk of overlooking a critical aspect of ourselves: the unconscious mind. At Lakeshore Psychotherapy Group, we often see how people’s deep-seated need for control can lead them to shy away from the idea of an unconscious, instead focusing solely on biological or easily measurable factors to explain their struggles.

It’s understandable. Concepts like dopamine levels, underdeveloped frontal lobes, and genetic predispositions offer a sense of tangible explanation. They provide a framework that feels controllable, something that can potentially be measured, manipulated with medication, or even “fixed.” This focus can be incredibly appealing because it seemingly places the power of change firmly in our hands – or at least in the hands of scientific intervention.

However, this focus often comes at the expense of acknowledging the vast landscape of the unconscious. The unconscious, as conceived by depth psychology, isn’t a dusty attic of forgotten memories. It’s a dynamic, powerful force shaping our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in ways we aren’t consciously aware of. It holds our unresolved conflicts, our hidden desires, our deeply ingrained patterns of relating.

The fear of the unconscious stems, in large part, from our fundamental need for control. The idea that there are aspects of ourselves operating outside of our conscious awareness can feel unsettling, even threatening. If we’re not fully in control of our own minds, who or what is? This lack of perceived control can trigger anxiety and a desire to find explanations that offer a sense of mastery.

By solely focusing on biological factors, we risk oversimplifying complex emotional and psychological issues. While these factors certainly play a role, they often don’t tell the whole story. For instance, while low serotonin might be associated with depression, it doesn’t explain the unique narrative of an individual’s sadness, the specific relational patterns that contribute to their isolation, or the underlying beliefs that fuel their negative self-perception.

Denying the unconscious can also limit our potential for deep and lasting change. If we believe our problems are solely a matter of brain chemistry or faulty genes, our solutions will likely be limited to external interventions like medication. While medication can be incredibly helpful in managing symptoms, it often doesn’t address the root causes of our struggles, which often lie within the unconscious.

Psychotherapy, particularly psychodynamic approaches, offers a space to explore the unconscious safely and collaboratively. Through the therapeutic relationship, we can begin to understand the hidden dynamics that are influencing our lives. Bringing unconscious patterns into conscious awareness can be a powerful catalyst for change, allowing us to gain greater insight, make more conscious choices, and ultimately develop a more integrated and authentic sense of self.

At Lakeshore Psychotherapy Group, we believe that embracing the complexity of the human psyche, including the often-uncomfortable realm of the unconscious, is essential for true healing and growth. While respecting the valuable contributions of neuroscience and biology, we encourage you to consider the richness and depth that exploring your inner world can offer. It’s in facing the unseen within that we can truly begin to understand and ultimately gain greater agency over our lives.

Are you ready to look beneath the surface of your struggles?

At Lakeshore Psychotherapy Group, we specialize in helping individuals explore unconscious patterns that may be driving anxiety, depression, or repetitive relationship issues. Through safe, collaborative psychodynamic therapy, we offer a path toward deeper insight and emotional freedom.

Let us help you uncover what’s unseen—and reclaim your agency from within. Reach out today to schedule a confidential consultation.