"The main interest of my work, is not concerned with the treatment of neurosis but rather with the approach to the numinous. But the fact is that the approach to the numinous is the real therapy and inasmuch as you attain to the numinous experiences, you are released from the curse of pathology. Even the very disease takes on a numinous character." CG Jung Letters 1 Pg 377
A Four Month Clinical Seminar with Michael Conforti, Ph.D.
We are fascinated by the process of psychotherapy. Since its inception in 46 AD with the Asclepiads, we have experienced treatment as either truly transformative, good enough, or utterly disastrous. The pioneers in the field have sought to understand something of those inherent, archetypal processes which create conditions for healing, occurring within what is one of the most perplexing and transformative relationships humanity has ever known. Ultimately however, we must acknowledge that psychotherapy is an archetypal and spiritual experience, worthy of our attention, dedication, and perhaps even our awe.
Jung realized that the process of therapy involves an entrainment and synchronization of the client’s and therapist’s psyche, where this dyad often functions as a single entity. This therapeutic relationship is inexorably entwined in psyche’s dance, choreographed for the purpose of manifesting archetypal dynamics into matter. So too, Jung understood that this therapeutic temenos had to be strong enough to contain the numinous.
Within the confines of this therapeutic relationship, we find the past, present, and future collapsing into a timeless moment, and the distinctions between conscious and unconscious intent expressed as an ongoing pattern in the client’s life. This intermingling of psyches and time represent innate properties of the archetypal field of therapy. In these therapeutic configurational processes and dynamics, Psyche finds the canvas upon which to paint its portrait of the client’s current and future life waiting in potential. Jung comments on this confluence of psyche and matter when writing that:
"Since psyche and matter are contained in one and the same world… it is not only possible but fairly probable…that psyche and matter are two different aspects of one and the same thing." (C. G. Jung CW vol VIII P. 215),
This voice of Psyche is multi-lingual, also communicating its understanding of our life through the stories we tell about our dreams, family, love, movies, and politics. Emerging from the Self, these stories are free of distortion, and secondary revisionist processes, and provide a vital, yet hidden truth about our life. Consider the case of a client whose ongoing drug and gambling addiction has seriously impacted their family. While client and therapist will inevitably create their own narratives about this situation, Psyche’s voice provides an objective telling of how these behaviors live on and affect the client’s and families life and soul, while also providing the archetypal meaning of this behavior.
In a session, this client may speak about a movie, and other related stories where the parent walked out of their family’s life. These stories exemplify Bion's concept of "Unconscious Selected Fact", whereby these highly specific themes are selected by the Self, in an effort to make conscious, the unconscious truth that their addiction has caused the family terrible pain, and emotional and financial insecurity. While it is absolutely necessary to understand the archetypal and purposive nature of the addiction, we also need to listen to the unconscious effects of this addiction on their family and their own soul. From these stories we see how they had emotionally walked away from the family and any genuine consideration for their welfare. Then as we learn of the client’s ongoing difficulties with work, finances, and a series of self-injurious behaviors, we see the workings of their unconscious guilt, created in response to their transgressions. These objective and accurate derivative communications represent the voice of the Self. So too we understand that the gambler is addicted to the archetype of luck- "La Fortuna," and good fortune. It is likely that they have avoided the work of building a secure ego in the world capable of taking on the tasks of life, such as earning a living and more. The clinical and archetypal task is to create a confluence between an experience and not a reliance on the benevolence within the world, coupled with an active engagement with life.
Modules:
This four (4) month clinical seminar focuses on:
-The archetypal dimensions of treatment
-Identify the manifestation of archetypal dynamics within the client-therapist interactional field
- Translate The Voice of Psyche, as presented through Unconscious Communication, and Unconscious Perception
- Assess and explain the meaning of these interactional dynamics and unconscious communications and ways to create meaningful responses to them
-Discern the presence of trauma through:
Images, Therapeutic interactions, Unconscious communication
10 CEs/Continuing Education Hours offered.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
-The archetypal dimensions of treatment
-Identify the manifestation of archetypal dynamics within the client-therapist interactional field
- Translate The Voice of Psyche, as presented through Unconscious Communication, and Unconscious Perception
- Assess and explain the meaning of these interactional dynamics and unconscious communications and ways to create meaningful responses to them
-Discern the presence of trauma through:
Images, Therapeutic interactions, Unconscious communication
10 CEs/Continuing Education Hours offered.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- To demonstrate to clinicians the importance of the initial interviews and to develop a rich understanding of this interaction.
- To identify how the creation of dynamics within the initial interview follow the contours of processes in nature responsible for the generation of form
- Demonstrating to clinicians how the patient’s complexes and archetypal dynamics are often expressed through specific requests regarding the conditions of treatment
- Analyzing with clinicians how they may recognize when their own dynamics have eclipsed their clients’ needs
Dr. Michael Conforti is a Jungian analyst and the Founder and Director of the Assisi Institute. He is a faculty member at the C.G. Jung Institute - Boston, the C.G. Jung Foundation of New York, and for many years served as a Senior Associate faculty member in the Doctoral and Master's Programs in Clinical Psychology at Antioch New England. A pioneer in the field of matter-psyche studies, Dr. Conforti is actively investigating the workings of archetypal fields and the relationship between Jungian psychology and the New Sciences. He has presented his work to a wide range of national and international audiences, including the C.G. Jung Institute - Zurich and Jungian organizations in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Italy, Russia and Venezuela. He is the author of Threshold Experiences: The Archetype of Beginnings (2007) and Field, Form and Fate: Patterns in Mind, Nature and Psyche (2002). His articles have appeared in Psychological Perspectives, San Francisco Jung Library Journal, Roundtable Press, World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution, and Spring Journal, and his books has been translated into Italian, Russian and a soon to be released Spanish edition of his work.
Webinar Schedule
Downloadable Schedule
| the_voice_of_psyche_2020_-_schedule.pdf |
Logistics: |
Tuition and Discounts |
Payment Plans |
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Monday Evenings 8:00-9:00 PM EST Dates: February 3, 2020 - May 18, 2020 Group meets weekly on-line via Zoom. Each session is recorded and available to students at your convenience. |
Tuition: $375.00 USD
Scholarships We have a limited number of scholarships available. Please call or write the Institute for information about this. Downloadable Reg. Form
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Semester Payment: 1/2 due at registration; 1/2 due March 15, 2020 Registration Form | ||
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
GRIEVANCE POLICY
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to: Assisi Institute at [email protected] or (860) 415-5004. Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED
CES training facilities are handicap accessible. Special accommodations will be made available upon request. Individuals needing special accommodations, or for any other questions regarding training, please contact: Assisi Institute at [email protected] or 860-415-5004.
It is the participant's responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.
Continuing Education Credit is provided by Commonwealth Educational Seminars for the following professions:
Social Workers:
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Social Workers. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for Social Workers. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
If applicable: Social Workers – New York State
Commonwealth Educational Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #SW-0444.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists:
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LMFTs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors:
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LPCs/LMHCs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
GRIEVANCE POLICY
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to: Assisi Institute at [email protected] or (860) 415-5004. Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED
CES training facilities are handicap accessible. Special accommodations will be made available upon request. Individuals needing special accommodations, or for any other questions regarding training, please contact: Assisi Institute at [email protected] or 860-415-5004.
It is the participant's responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.
Continuing Education Credit is provided by Commonwealth Educational Seminars for the following professions:
Social Workers:
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Social Workers. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for Social Workers. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
If applicable: Social Workers – New York State
Commonwealth Educational Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #SW-0444.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists:
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LMFTs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors:
Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LPCs/LMHCs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.