Jungian Psychology in the Modern World
The reading group is intended for anyone with an interest in working with the unconscious and its symbols. It will be of particular interest to experienced coaches and organisational consultants. No previous knowledge of Jungian psychology is needed.
This is not a training programme.
Each month we will focus on an aspect of working with symbol, using Jungian theory to explore how it can be applied to a modern coaching and consulting practice. We will use the programme reading and other materials, to support our discussion. Our primary text will be 'Coaching the Unconscious: A Jungian Approach to Working with Symbol' as our primary text, alongside additional curated reading as appropriate. You will need to buy the book yourself!
Participants will be encouraged to bring cases and reflections from their own practice, to help the group bring the theory to life.
The group will meet between 13:00 and 14:00 UK time for six sessions over the following dates:
12th October 2026: Understanding symbol
09th November 2026: Developing a symbolic attitude.
7th December 2026: Beginning to play
11th January 2027: Set and setting
8th February 2027: Tracing the spiral
8th March 2027: Living a symbolic life*
* The final session will be from 13:00 to 14:30 to allow time for any final group reflections
All our discussions will be recorded for further reference or reflections.
Materials will be available until 30th April 2027. All recordings will be deleted on this date.
Understanding the location, form and function of symbol
Beginning to notice symbol within us and around us
Finding freedom and creativity in coaching
Preparing the spaces for symbolic work
Exploring active imagination as a coaching technique
Beginning to live a symbolic life
This Programme will be delivered by Laurence Barrett who has coached senior leaders and led change programmes for international organisations for over 30 years. Laurence trained as a coach and a supervisor at the Tavistock Institute. He holds an MSc in Analytical (Jungian) Psychology from the British Psychotherapy Foundation and an MBA from Lancaster University, along with a Foundation Certificate in Group Analysis from the Institute of Group Analysis . He also holds certificates in ecopsychology and ecotherapy from the Pacifica Graduate Institute. He is the author of 'A Jungian Approach to Coaching: The Theory and practice of Turning Leaders into People'.