Contact hours:  Contact hours: 4 CE contact hours for Licensed NYS Social Workers, Psychoanalysts and Creative Arts Therapists for this program.

This workshop turns attention to the father/son dynamic from the Jungian perspective, the fields of psychoanalysis, and the concepts of absence in the search for the Self. “In this context, absence does not mean loss, but potential presence” (Andre Green, 1986, p. 293).

We examine the profound psychological and cultural consequences of father absence, a topic often overlooked in Jungian explorations of the psyche. Through vivid vignettes, we delve into the generational trauma and neglected complexities of the father/son relationship. The absence of a father figure shapes individual and collective experiences, offering insights into the psychological impact and its broader cultural implications. This exploration sheds light on the unspoken grief and unresolved tensions that ripple through families and society, providing a fresh perspective on Jungian concepts regarding this critical yet underexplored subject.

This is an essential resource for analytical and depth psychologists, therapists, academics, and students with Jungian and post-Jungian interests. It also serves as a valuable guide for anyone seeking to understand and heal the intricate dynamics between fathers and sons.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

Susan E. Schwartz, PhD, trained in Zurich, Switzerland as a Jungian analyst. She has appeared in over 100 podcasts, YouTube channels, and presented at numerous Jungian conferences and teaching programs in the USA and worldwide.  She has articles in journals and chapters on Jungian analytical psychology. Her books, translated into many languages are: The Absent Father Effect on Daughters, Father Desire, Father Wounds; Imposter Syndrome and the ‘As-If’ Personality: The Fragility of Self (2023); A Jungian Exploration of the Puella Archetype: Girl Unfolding (2024) and An Analytical Exploration of Love and Narcissism(2025), Absent Fathers, Yearning Sons; A Jungian Analysis of the Father-Son Dynamic (2026) The Shadows of the Psyche; Predators of Self-deception, Envy Sirens and Demon Lovers (2027) all are published by Routledge.