Journal of Analytical Psychology International conference on Crossing Borders

CROSSING BORDERS: Clinical, Theoretical, Cultural and Political Implications in our Changing World

This spring, we in the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (PPS) have been delighted to be part of a collaboration with the Journal of Analytical Psychology and the Society of Analytical Psychology (SAP) in putting on the 16th International Conference of the Journal, entitled Crossing Borders: Clinical, Theoretical, Cultural and Political Implications in our Changing World.

The conference took place here at Essex University from 11-14 April, 2024. During these four days, a group of people from all over the world gathered in Essex Business School, both in person and online, to engage in discussions, debates and workshops, all centring on the clinical, theoretical, cultural and political implications for analytical psychology of crossing borders in relation to different aspects of identity.

A range of themes were covered, from cultural complexes, ethnicity, cultural expressions of trauma, gender fluidity, and working within and across different faiths. On Thursday, a pre-conference day, Liz Brodersen, Christopher Carter and Helen Morgan gave presentations and workshops on the topic of cultural complexes and racism for delegates already assembled in Essex Business School.

Friday saw the start of the conference proper, opened by Renos Papadopoulos, Founder and Director of PPS Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees and the MA and PhD in Refugee Care, and was devoted to cultural expressions of trauma.

PPS Lecturer Monica Luci gave a presentation on Disputed Boundaries of the Self, the Group, and their Environment: What we Learn from Refugees about Trauma, War and Culture, and Karin Fleischer, who had flown from Argentina to join the conference, spoke about Stolen Identities, Suspended Lives: Embodied Analysis with Victims of Early Trauma Due to State Terrorism.

The evening of this first day featured a very stimulating presentation by Andrew Samuels, former Professor of PPS, entitled On Analytical Psychology and Politics: A Cutting Edge and Transformative Contribution – OR A Narcissistic Total Waste of Time Only of Interest to Some Analysts and Therapists? This was followed by a lively drinks’ reception in the foyer of Essex Business School attended by everyone present, including various members and students of PPS.

Gender fluidity and Self in Culture was the theme for Saturday, and moving clinical presentations were given by Robert Tyminski from USA on Humanizing Different Archetypal Expressions of Gender Expansiveness and Jay Barlow, Director of the SAP Training, on Engendering Identity when Boundaries Confirm an Exiled Self.

The last day of the conference, Sunday, covered questions of faith and witnessed presentations by Les Stein over here in UK from Australia on The Self in the Consulting Room. The Power of Crossing Borders and Murray Stein of US and Zurich on The Faithless Analyst.

In amongst these key topics, were a significant number of breakout sessions, in which, amongst others, Lecturers of PPS, Roderick Main and Mark Saban, Honorary Member of Staff, Steve Myers, and students, Sulagna Sengupta and Jingchao Zeng, all spoke.

A lively and challenging four days of dialogue were supplemented by a social dreaming matrix run by SAP member Ali Zarbafi and congenial encounters amongst friends and colleagues in Essex Business School and over dinner, as well as at a tremendous Gala Dinner at The Barn where various serious academics could be seen letting their hair down and raving on the dance floor.

Judging by the feedback, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and felt that the conference was rich and engaging and a terrific success:

“A really outstanding conference blending clinical and wider perspective papers in a fine balance ... immensely valuable.”

“Daring – bold but contained.”

“The theme was absolutely timely and challenging.”

“Its spirit continues to inspire me daily … I'm grateful for the chance to view the recordings.”

“It was a ground-breaking conference, the papers from which deserve wide distribution through publication.”

Image courtesy of Lindsey Harris