Frontiers in Integrative Depth Psychology

Catalog description

Integrative Depth Psychology (IDP) is an emergent field of study and in this class is investigated as the intersections of psychoanalytical/depth psychology, socio-cultural studies, diversity consciousness, mindfulness studies, transpersonal psychology, and neuroscience. This course is structured as a laboratory to investigate current ways in which these respective fields are cross-pollinating and informing methods of pedagogy, inner work, psychotherapy, and community wellness practices. Students’ contribution to this emergent field is understood as the frontier of the field and toward this end the core learning activities of the course involves the students’ development of their own professional interests. Class work includes readings in historic and current literature in the field, students’ inner work practice, class discussion, development and completion of a research project, and completion of a collaborative course project based on the student’s research project. The course draws on post-Jungian theory, which both critiques limitations in C.G. Jung’s classical model (e.g. Eurocentric, colonial, binary assumptions) and highlights meaningful advances in the field. Key content areas in this course include an intercultural, feminist, BIPOC and LGBTQ affirmative consideration of the role of spirituality in the development of personhood, and study of the nature of self. The course will focus on techniques that facilitate awareness of the process of psychic projection. Particular attention will be paid to the analytical psychological technique of shadow work and its role in personal and community healing and transformation-namely of systemic problems such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, misogyny, violence against children, economic injustice, ecological alienation and abuse, and geo-political violence.