IAAP Conference “Becoming a Jungian Analyst: Reflections on Practice, Training and Research” in Copenhagen, June 26–28, 2026

LAPA
Jul 22
4 min read

On June 26–28, 2026, a conference organized by the IAAP (International Association for Analytical Psychology) was held in Copenhagen, exploring the path to becoming an analyst and the role of training in that process: “Becoming a Jungian Analyst: Reflections on Practice, Training, and Research.” Four of us represented LAAP: Gražina Gudaitė, Goda Rukšaitė, Elona Lovčikienė, and Dovilė Petronytė Kvedarauskienė.

The conference was organised by the former IAAP president, Misser Berg, the current president, Pilar Amezaga, and the president-elect, Gražina Gudaitė.

Misser Berg gave a presentation on the development of the IAAP – an organisation that regulates the selection, training and certification of future analysts. The IAAP was founded in 1955 and, for a long time, was dominated by Western European and North American countries.

Since the first decade of the 21st century, the IAAP has expanded significantly, incorporating countries from South America and Eastern and Central Europe, and later Asia. Lithuania, although geographically small, has played and continues to play a significant role in this expansion. The Lithuanian association LAAP was among the first in Eastern Europe to become a member of the IAAP in 2010. For many years, the presidents of the IAAP were representatives of the major countries, mainly from Western Europe and North America. Following a recent change to the election procedures for the IAAP’s executive committee, representatives from associations with fewer members are now eligible to join it. The Lithuanian representative, Gražina Gudaitė, will be the first president from Eastern and Central Europe.

Attention was drawn to the differences between the training programs organised by various IAAP associations. Previously, it was possible to distinguish between the classical Zurich school, the archetypal school, the developmental school and the Neumann school. As the IAAP has become highly diverse, each association with training status aligns its criteria with IAAP standards while retaining its own distinctiveness in the selection, training, and assessment of candidates.

At the conference, Prof. Gražina Gudaitė presented the results of her study ‘On the Role of Culture in the Engagement with the Unconscious’. The presentation identified and elaborated on the main themes that emerged from a qualitative study involving interviews with 30 experienced analysts from various countries around the world who work with people from different cultures.

The relationship with the cultural unconscious can be like a home and a refuge, helping one withstand life’s challenges, transcend the boundaries of individual existence, and impart meaning. On the other hand, one’s own culture can restrict and hinder growth. Becoming aware of cultural complexes is the path to discovering one’s cultural Self. In psychotherapy, when people from different cultures meet, and the analyst practises cultural humility and openness, a sense of commonality deeper than that offered by one’s own culture can be experienced, providing a powerful source of energy. These are just a few thoughts from Gražina Gudaitė’s presentation. We look forward to the book.

*From Jan Wiener’s presentation on the selection and evaluation of candidates to become analysts*

Presentations at the conference were given by experienced analysts and teachers: Jan Wiener, Toshio Kawai, Susanna Wright, Kristina Schellinski, Tom Kelly, Caterina Vezzoli and others. Discussions centred on the extent and the way objective criteria are applied in the selection, training and assessment of candidates. How can a candidate’s development into an analyst be measured? How much do the methods used in training influence this, and how much do the personalities of the training analysts play a part?

Becoming a Jungian analyst does not end with the award of a diploma. As former IAAP president Toshio Kawai said: ‘I have been a Jungian from the very beginning. And I am still in the process of becoming a Jungian analyst.’

Several speakers at the conference referred to the book by Gražina Gudaitė and Tom Kelly on the core competencies of a Jungian analyst, “Exploring Core Competencies in Jungian Psychoanalysis”. Based on these competencies and through further exploration of them, the guidelines for the training of analysts are being refined.

Towards the end of the conference, it was noted that at a certain stage of training programmes, it is important to familiarise oneself with scientific research. In her presentation, Monika Luci argued why Jungian analysts should take an interest in research. Resistance to scientific knowledge leads to isolation. Research in which methodology serves a deep interest, a genuine question and an openness to the unknown – rather than the other way round – is in keeping with the Jungian spirit. Jung himself was a researcher in both the specific and the broad sense. Jungians are characterised by an inquiring, questioning and listening stance. Therefore, according to Gražina Gudaitė, who took part in the discussion, it is not by fighting or ignoring contemporary science, but by engaging in dialogue with science, that we can contribute to it significantly.

During the day, it was interesting to listen to the presentations and the discussions that followed.