The Roots of Symbolic Meaning: Jungian Foundations, Cultural Variation, and Clinical Exploration

This paper builds on the somatic‑symbolic model introduced in Thomas (2026), which proposes that emotional clarity emerges through the symbolic interpretation of bodily sensations rather than the direct recognition of pre‑formed emotional states. Expanding on that foundation, this work presents the Somatic Exploration Map, a structured method designed to help clients explore sensation, symbolic imagery, and meaning before attempting emotional identification. Drawing from affective science, depth psychology, interoception research, cultural psychology, and neurodiversity studies, the paper argues that sensations gain emotional meaning only after they are symbolically represented through personal history, cultural narratives, and neurotype‑specific processing. Clinical applications, case examples, and implications for trauma‑informed and neurodiversity‑affirming practice are included.