You don’t have to believe in the unconscious to benefit from therapy. However, perhaps you could remain open to the idea while you’re engaged in the process. Consider that there may be an inner-self who operates outside of your awareness. Therapists are trained to recognize the unconscious motivations and symbols hidden in your descriptions of everyday life.

In therapy, you will learn to gather these sorts of insights, as well. Becoming aware that certain aspects of your mind function “dynamically,” meaning on their own, can be frightening. But doing so allows you to increase your awareness of these processes and ultimately seek, not necessarily to control your unconscious, but to better understand it and improve your relationship with the inner-you.