We have seen a ‘political turn’ in all the therapies in the past twenty years. In a way, this is a recreation of the original radical nature of all the therapies, but especially psychoanalysis. Andrew Samuels has been in the forefront of this international phenomenon, in his work with Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility, the Analysis and Activism movement, and the UK-Palestine Mental Health Network. His relevant books include The Political Psyche (1993), Politics on the Couch (2001), and A New Therapy for Politics? (2016). He is a pioneer and an enthusiast for the linking of ‘therapy thinking’ and contemporary politics.
But Andrew is also a little sceptical and concerned that, in our excitement for the political turn in our field, we therapists are missing the point about how little we really have to contribute. So Andrew will produce a sort of Manifesto that might help to make the wish to contribute to society on the part of therapists turn into a reality.
In the talk, Andrew will employ reflection and self-reflection, including stringent and revealing self-criticism. One aim is to construct a space in which people can work out where they really stand in relation to psychotherapy and society. To assist in this, there will be some on-line experiential work asked of the participants.
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Samuels is recognized internationally as one of the foremost political commentators working in the fields of analysis, psychotherapy and depth psychology. He is a pluralist and draws on a wide range of approaches to psyche, including post-Jungian, relational psychoanalytic and humanistic ideas. But he roots his work in people’s lived experience in their family and in society. Andrew is a Training Analyst of the Society of Analytical Psychology, in private practice in London, and was Professor of Analytical Psychology at the University of Essex. He was Chair of the UK Council for Psychotherapy and co-founded both Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility and the Analysis and Activism movement in the Jungian world. He works as a consultant with political leaders, parties and activist groups in several countries, including the United States. He also consults to Britain’s National Health Service. Books include The Political Psyche (1993), Politics on the Couch (2001), A New Therapy for Politics? (2017), and Analysis and Activism (edited with Emilija Kiehl and Mark Saban (2016).
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