Intensive Summer School: Foundations of Psychoanalytic & Jungian Psychotherapy

The aim of the summer school is to offer a grounded and coherent introduction to psychoanalytic and Jungian ideas, presented in ways that speak directly to the developmental journey of the human psyche. Participants will gain an understanding of how unconscious processes, symbolic experience, relational dynamics, and early emotional life shape the development of the self over time. Emphasis is placed on helping participants think about how these ideas play out across the lifespan—from infancy and childhood to adulthood, couple relationships, and later life.

Throughout the programme, time is set aside for reflective discussion, helping participants think through how these concepts relate to their own experiences and to broader cultural and developmental themes. For those considering further study, the course provides valuable insight into psychoanalytic training pathways at the British Psychotherapy Foundation. A certificate of completion is offered to participants who attend at least 80% of sessions.

Lecture Preview:

This summer school is suitable for anyone with an interest in psychoanalytic or Jungian thought, regardless of background or prior study. It is particularly valuable for people at the beginning of their exploration of psychotherapy, especially those who may be considering applying for a bpf training and want a structured way to engage with the core ideas.

The course also welcomes individuals interested in understanding their own emotional and developmental history, including how patterns form in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and relationships. Students, professionals, or researchers in related fields—such as psychology, education, health and social care, the arts, or the humanities—may find that the developmental focus provides a useful theoretical backbone for their existing work. More broadly, the programme is well-suited to anyone drawn to the inner world, symbolism, and the evolving nature of psychic life across time.

The course is taught online in English. Fluency in English will be required in order to join the course. This intensive course contains no written work, but is taught at a postgraduate level.

The summer school explores a rich and structured range of material, always with reference to the unfolding of psychological life across the developmental lifespan. Participants begin by examining the origins of psychoanalysis, including Freud’s foundational ideas about the formation of the psyche, early relational experience, dream life, and the workings of repression, transference, and unconscious processes throughout life. These foundational frameworks form the basis for understanding how development is shaped from infancy onward.

The programme then moves into Jungian perspectives, exploring central concepts such as archetypes, the collective unconscious, symbolic life, and the process of individuation. Jung’s attention to developmental transitions—including the shifts of adolescence, midlife, creativity, and later life—provides a rich complement to psychoanalytic models of growth.

Further sessions consider the therapeutic relationship as a developmental space, where early patterns, attachment templates, and unconscious dynamics can be expressed, understood, and transformed. Contemporary perspectives introduce interdisciplinary insights from neuroscience, culture, and developmental psychology, enabling participants to appreciate how early experience shapes internal worlds and how these worlds continue to evolve across adulthood and aging.

Throughout the course, reflective opportunities support participants in considering their own developmental stories, patterns, and symbolic themes, encouraging both intellectual and personal engagement.

The programme is delivered completely online and takes place across 4.5 consecutive days. The following timetable may be subject to some changes.

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Day 1. Foundations, Approaches, Historical and Cultural Contexts 

Day 1 introduces the core ideas of psychoanalytic and Jungian thought, tracing their origins in early 20th-century Europe and their evolution into diverse global traditions. Building on these foundational theories, the sessions encourage participants to critically examine how historical, cultural, and social contexts have shaped key concepts and practices.  

Welcome session: The summer school opens by welcoming participants into a reflective, inclusive learning community. This session introduces the bpf, outlines the structure and ethos of the summer school programme, and invites participants to situate themselves (personally and/or professionally) within the weekend ahead, setting a thoughtful and collaborative tone. 

Session 1. Charting the Unconscious: Core Assumptions of Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis. This session covers key concepts in psychoanalysis and Jungian analysis, such as the unconscious, inner conflict, early experiences, transference, collective unconscious, archetypes, individuation, and symbolism. Participants will learn about how both traditions converge and where they differ. 

Session 2. The Analytic Attitude: How to Listen and Find Meaning in Clinical Practice. Focusing on how therapists listen, this experiential session explores the psychoanalytic and Jungian sensibility and frame. Through discussion and practical exercises, participants will learn about concepts informing the therapeutic attitude including neutrality, abstinence, reverie, use of transference and counter transference (analytic) as well as imaginal listening, use of symbolism, tracking complexes and collective layers, and holding the tension of opposites (Jungian)  

Session 3. From Vienna to the World: The History and Cultural Development of Psychoanalysis and Jungian Psychotherapy. In this session, participants trace the development of psychoanalysis and Jungian psychotherapy from their roots in Vienna to their spread around the world. The session covers the theoretical split between Freud and Jung, highlighting their differing views on human motivation, the unconscious, and therapeutic goals. It also examines how psychoanalysis adapted to different cultural settings, including the UK, USA, France, and Argentina, shaped by significant historical events such as World War II. Discussions encourage participants to reflect on the impact of trauma, exile, and cultural diversity on both theory and clinical practice. 

Timetable

Day 2. Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence and Early Adulthood 

Day 2 is dedicated to the exploration of human development from infancy and childhood through to adolescence and early adulthood. The sessions provide an in-depth examination of emotional life, identity formation, and relational dynamics at each developmental stage, drawing on psychoanalytic and Jungian frameworks. 

Session 1.  Psychoanalytic Approach: The Emotional Life of Infants and Children. This extended session introduces key psychoanalytic theories about infancy and childhood, highlighting how early relationships shape emotional development. It reviews foundational concepts from Freud, Anna Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Bion, Bowlby, Fonagy, and Erikson, and notes the cultural and diversity limitations of traditional models. Participants connect theory to their experiences through a group activity recalling childhood memories. 

Session 2. Jungian Approach: The Emotional Life of Infants and Children. Introducing Jungian and post‑Jungian ideas, this session explores childhood through symbolic, archetypal, and relational lenses. Participants reflect on images, imagination, and early attachment as foundations of lifelong individuation and meaning‑making. Participants will draw personal childhood symbols and engage in symbolic dialogue to explore how archetypal patterns shape early life. 

Session 3. Adolescence: Growing, Separating, Becoming. Focusing on adolescence as a distinct and turbulent developmental phase, this session explores identity formation, emotional and physical development, transition to adulthood (teens to early 20s), creativity, and rebellion. Psychoanalytic and Jungian perspectives illuminate why adolescence is a time of risk, imagination, and profound psychological transformation. Reflective group discussions help participants link theoretical concepts to both their own and observed experiences of adolescence. 

Session 4. From Adolescence to Autonomy: Growth and Transformation in Adulthood (18–40). The final session of the day focuses on early adulthood, drawing from both psychoanalytic and Jungian perspectives. This session examines early adulthood as a period of consolidation and re‑orientation. Participants explore how work life, careers, intimacy, relationships, identity and parenting reactivate early emotional patterns, and how both traditions understand the move toward greater autonomy, authenticity, and responsibility. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own identity development and the congruence between their authentic and presented selves through group discussion. 

Timetable

Day 3. Relationships, Being a Parent, Midlife, Ageing and Mortality

Day 3 focuses on the exploration of adult relational life, the complexities of parenting, transitions experienced during midlife, the challenges and insights of ageing, and the confrontation with mortality. All these themes are approached through psychoanalytic and Jungian thought, offering rich perspectives on the inner and outer worlds of adult development. 

Session 1. Perspectives on Love: Being a Couple. Exploring intimacy from a psychoanalytic viewpoint, this session examines how unconscious dynamics shape attraction, conflict, dependency, and growth in couple relationships. Diverse forms of partnership, including queer and non‑traditional relationships, are explored through an inclusive, contemporary lens. The session covers unconscious motivations, object choice, projective identification with partners and attachment patterns in relationships. Experiential tasks and discussion allow participants to reflect on their own relational patterns.  

Session 2. Perspectives on Being a Parent: A Deeper Look. This session explores parenting as a deeply emotional and symbolic experience. Participants examine how unconscious processes, early experiences, bodily states, and culture interact in the parent–child relationship, illuminating why parenting can be both transformative and psychologically demanding. Participants will reflect on how personal and cultural backgrounds affect their own understanding of the parenting experience. 

Session 3. Midlife Matters: Transitions, Turning Points and Crises. This session explores midlife as a key transitional stage in development. Midlife is not simply a crisis, but as a vital opportunity for re-evaluation, integration, and renewed purpose. For psychoanalysis it is a period marked by confronting unresolved childhood issues, adapting defences, and re-evaluating identity and goals. Jungians view this period as vital for individuation, highlighting increased self-integration, awareness of mortality, and a search for meaning. Group discussions help participants reflect on these themes. 

Session 4. Embracing Old Age: Legacy, Loss and Living Authentically. This session explores aging as a psychologically significant stage of life. Participants reflect on loss, dependency, wisdom, life review, and dignity, considering how later life can also offer opportunities for emotional integration, creativity, and authenticity. Addressing mortality directly, this session also explores how individuals psychologically respond to death and dying. Drawing on psychoanalytic and Jungian thought, participants reflect on symbolism, fear, mourning, renewal, and how confronting mortality can deepen meaning in life. 

Timetable

Day 4. Pathways to Practice and Working with Clients across the Lifespan

Day 4 shifts focus to professional training and practice, featuring qualified therapists sharing personal and professional journeys in various psychoanalytic and Jungian modalities, including adult, child and adolescent, parent-infant, and couples’ psychotherapy. The sessions explore the motivations and challenges of training, clinical experiences that shape professional development, the emotional demands of clinical work, exploration of possible career pathways within psychotherapy, strategies and practices for self-care, core qualities required for effective therapeutic practice. Participants are provided with opportunities to ask questions and engage with the facilitators. 

Timetable

Day 5. Bringing It All Together: Integration and Next Steps

Day 5 provides a comprehensive wrap-up of the summer school, emphasizing integration of key psychoanalytic and Jungian concepts. Participants revisit major developmental themes, observe and reflect on mother-infant interactions, and explore real-world applications of developmental theory in fields like education, social care, and the arts. The day concludes with group reflection, identification of next steps for continued learning, and a shared sense of closure. 

Session 1. Pulling the Threads Together. This session provides a review of the material covered throughout the week. Participants will revisit key topics, focusing on developmental processes and the relational dynamics that shape human growth and development across the lifespan. 

Session 2. Mini Infant Observation. Mother and Baby: A Window into the Start of Life. In this session, participants will engage in an observational exercise featuring a video of a mother and her infant. Following the viewing, the group will discuss the interactions and emotional exchanges observed between the mother and baby. The conversation will address developmental milestones and explore the clinical implications of these early relationships, connecting theoretical concepts to real-world experiences. 

Session 3. Applications of psychoanalytic and Jungian Developmental Theory Beyond Therapy Settings. This session investigates how psychoanalytic and Jungian developmental theories can be applied outside of traditional therapy settings. The discussion will include examples from education, social services, parenting, organizations, and creative fields. The group will reflect together on ways to apply developmental ideas to their own lives and contexts. 

Session 4. Final Reflection, Connection, and Next Steps. The concluding session focuses on consolidating the week’s learning experiences. Participants will reflect on the lessons learned and identify the most important takeaways. The session will also provide an opportunity to outline future learning opportunities and available resources, supporting ongoing professional development and growth. 

Timetable

Standard fee: £1350

Dates: 16th – 20th July, 2026

Places are limited to support depth of engagement.

Applications for the 2026 Summer School are now open. Please send in your application through the button below

Places for this course are offered on a first come first served basis. We recommend applying early to avoid disappointment.

If you have any questions, please contact: [email protected]