Art and The Unconscious

Creative Process Therapy Diploma Course

Online - 6 Mondays (6.30pm-9.30pm UK time)

2nd June - 7th July 2025

 
 

‘The wealth of the soul exists in images.’ Carl Jung

Introduction

This course demonstrates the inextricable link between art and the unconscious mind. Just as we can explore the depths of the unconscious through Dreams, we can also explore the projected unconscious in artistic creation. Art provides us with a container to view and explore both personal and archetypal symbolism.

Within Art is psychological depth that reflects mental health, society, and zeitgeist. Imagery activates the sensate world; a world which in its original form was undefended. Working with imagery facilitates the way for the personal unconscious to come forward before the ego defenses have been employed. Pictures often evoke strong emotional responses. Being able to understand why a picture makes us feel a certain way can gently reveal the personal complexes at play thus offering an expansion of consciousness which allows the libido to be free-flowing and moves us along the path of individuation. At a deeper level, we can access the archetypes which move through us, furthering the individuation journey and calling us into collective action.

What makes this course unique is the contribution from the Artist who through his own vulnerability allows us to see the role of art in turning trauma into triumph. Gerard bravely shares his inner psychic world with us via his paintings which were created over a twenty-year span. This in real time gives us insight into the psyche of an artist exemplifying the inextricable link between art and the unconscious mind.

On completion of the course You will gain a solid theoretical understanding of the unconscious processes at play in artistic creation. You will have weekly opportunities to apply the theory to yourself and to the artwork on the course, strengthening your confidence for art analysis in clinical practice and for your own personal development. Each lecture will be supported by a wealth of accompanying resources; articles, psychiatric journals, and clinical aides such as instructed exercises and projective tests to use clinically or personally including inkblots created by Gerard and guided active imaginations.

Each week, students will be sent a piece of Gerard’s artwork for their personal reflections. Student reflections and analysis will be shared and discussed collectively in week 6. Along with an in-depth presentation of the artwork’s true meaning where Gerard’s personal and collective unconscious is revealed.

All psychological and artistic terminology will be explained and exemplified throughout the course.

What to expect:

Week One:

  • Introduction to Jungian Psychology and the structure of the psyche

  • Reflections on the projected unconscious in art

  • The concept of canvas as container

  • The archetypal nature of art

  • The beginners mindset

Week Two:

  • Introduction to the history of the use of art in psychology

  • Psychiatric art

  • Outsider art

  • Freud’s influence on the surrealists

  • Birkhäuser and Von Franz

Week Three:

  • Superego and shadow restrictions on creativity

  • Synaesthesia

  • Considering the unrestricted child mind

  • Primitive art

  • Practical exercises to gain confidence

Week Four:

  • Structure and dynamic in art

  • Guidelines for analysing paintings and drawings

  • Symbols and Amplification

  • Colour  symbolism

  • Working with the unconscious content

Week Five:

  • Dream and active imagination art

  • Active imagination exercise

  • Mandalas and the path to individuation

  • Jung’s Mandalas

  • Mandala exercise

Week Six:

  • Review and Reflections on course content

  • Shared student personal reflections on Gerard’s art.

  • Shared student analysis of Gerard’s art.

  • Presentation of Gerard’s personal analysis of his art.

  • Q & A

Students will be encouraged to participate in weekly creative exercises.  They will therefore require a notebook, journal or some paper and art materials of their choice.  A simple pencil or biro pen will be sufficient, although some may choose to have coloured pencils, markers, chalks etc to hand.  We encourage you to use what you feel most comfortable with.

About Laura Patterson

Laura is a psychodynamic individual and relationship therapist in Northern Ireland. 

Her Jungian focused therapeutic work, provides depth of understanding to the unconscious dynamics of individuals and relationships.  She is passionate about amplifying the symbols given in dreams, active imagination and working creatively through fairy tale and art, to help clients build a bridge between the unconscious and conscious realms of the psyche.

Laura previously lectured in Belfast, on a range of courses where she was involved in teaching, and training the student therapists; including the University of Ulster’s Foundation Degree course and CPCAB courses. She both wrote and coordinated courses during her time there. Laura also delivers bespoke psycho-education workshops for personal development purposes and for businesses.

She has been the expert opinion for psychology articles published in Happiful magazine, the Irish Independent, and the Belfast Telegraph.

About Gerard Torbitt

Gerard is a Belfast based artist, inspired by the depths of the psyche and mysticism. His Belfast exhibition 'BRING YOUR OWN GHOSTS' consisted of a series of vivid, colourful and often disturbing paintings. These were inspired by the isolation of lockdown, a solo residency in Cushendalls curfew tower, his recent separation and personal exploration and relocation.

Gerard describes his artistic style as ‘chaos’ art, which involves finding meaning and purpose in the chaotic and synchronistic imagery bubbling up from the deep unconscious.  Gerard’s artistic style, complements the Jungian approach through the paradoxical elements of colour and dark, disturbing and soothing, violence and innocence in his imagery.

Having been on his own journey through the psyche, Gerard speaks of both the containing and cleansing effects of creative practice and is an advocate for the benefits of art for mental health.


COURSE STRUCTURE

The classes are held online via Zoom across 6 Mondays from June 2nd to July 7th 2025 (6.30pm-9.30pm UK time).

The course fees are €600.

• 18 CPD points will be awarded with the Diploma in Creative Process Therapy

• The Video Recordings of all 6 classes will be available as the course progresses

Bookings and fees for Jung Centre events are non-refundable.

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