Suffering, Trauma and Transformation. Jungian perspectives

This seminar will explore how Jungian psychology can help us rethink one of the most urgent issues of our time:
• how we understand and respond to human suffering
• how do our modern societies tend to perceive, conceptualize and address human suffering, both in its general forms as well as in the specific circumstances of Severe Forms of Collective Adversity (e.g. wars, natural catastrophes, etc.)Although the emphasis is going to be on the therapeutic dimensions of this phenomenon, inevitably, it will be necessary to also consider its wider philosophical, socio-political, ethical and spiritual dimensions.
The central argument is that the tragic proliferation of various Severe Forms of Collective Adversity in our world today, in addition to the increasing varieties of their media suggestive coverage, have contributed substantially to manufacturing human suffering and trauma as forms of ‘commodities’, which are ‘traded’ in a multiplicity of ways.
A predominant feature of this phenomenon is the 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 and, consequently, the exclusion of any transformational potential of any form of human anguish and distress.
In contrast, Jung offers a different perspective, which he did not always explain in clear and unambiguous terms. Therefore, this training seminar will extrapolate from the Jungian opus the distinctive features of Jung’s unique contribution to these vital matters.
This seminar will include maximum possible interaction with the participants, not only in terms of discussing the presented themes but also sharing experiences from their own practice.This seminar will:
Examine the therapeutic, philosophical, socio-political, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of suffering
Highlight Jung’s unique contributions to these questions
Encourage active dialogue and exchange—participants will be invited to reflect, discuss, and share insights from their own practiceWhether you are an analyst, a psychotherapist, student, or simply interested in deepening your understanding of human suffering and resilience, this seminar offers an opportunity to engage with these vital questions.

Renos K. Papadopoulos, PhD, FBPsS, is Jungian Psychoanalyst and Professor of Analytical Psychology at the University of Essex, Founder Director of the Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees, and Honorary Clinical Psychologist at the Tavistock Clinic.
He is also a Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Family Psychotherapist, with decades of international experience working with refugees, survivors of torture, trafficked people, and communities affected by political violence and disasters.
Prof. Papadopoulos has served as consultant to the United Nations and numerous organizations worldwide, trained practitioners across continents, and published widely in 18 languages.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of the IAAP for several years, setting up, inter alia, the Developing Groups within IAAP; he was the editor of ‘The IAAP Newsletter’ for 8 years, of 'Harvest: International Journal for Jungian Studies' for 14 years, founder editor of the 'International Journal of Jungian Studies', and co-founder of the 'International Association for Jungian Studies'.
Among the honorary acclaims that he has received are Lifetime Achievement awards by the European Family Therapy Association and by the International Association of Jungian Studies (the ‘C.G. Jung 2022 Award’); by the University of Essex for the ‘Best International Research Impact’, and by two Mexican Foundations for ‘exceptional work with vulnerable children and families in Mexico’.
His most recent books include works on 𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑛𝑗𝑢𝑟𝑦 and 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, the latter described as inaugurating a new paradigm in the field.