XXIII International Congress for Analytical Psychology in Zurich, 24 – 29 August 2025
- LAPA
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
The International Congress for Analytical Psychology, organized by the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP), was held in Zurich from 24 to 29 August 2025. This year, the Congress was dedicated to a special occasion – to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the famous Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, Carl Gustav Jung.
1800 participants from all over the world – of different cultures, languages and experiences – gathered in Zurich to celebrate a common field of values and share knowledge about Jung’s legacy. It was an extraordinary opportunity to be among people who live and work guided by the same ideas. LAAP people did not miss such an opportunity – over 40 LAAP members attended the Congress.
The congress program was impressive. Every day there were dozens of presentations on relevant and engaging topics. It was difficult to choose, as there were 5-8 presentations taking place simultaneously in different spaces.
"It was good to see and hear dear teachers, supervisors, and book authors: Donald Kalsched,
Verena Kast, Murray Stein, Joseph Cambray, Kristina Schellinski, Tom Kelly, Gert Sauer, Andrew
Samuels and others whose thoughts and insights are so important in life and work. The true Jungian analysts Olympics.” (Rasa)
The topics of the presentations were bold and relevant to our crisis-ridden era. The congress program also focused on an overview of CG Jung's ideas in the context of contemporary research.
"What has changed? Has anything changed? What needs to change? - Late-career reflections on international analytical psychology"
"On Death, Hope, and the Soul: When Self Compensates Chaos"
"Analysis and War. 30 km from the Front Line"
"A Late Confirmation? Review of C.G. Jung's Understanding of Dreams in the Light of Modern Dream Research"
"Artificial Intelligence and Analytical Psychology"
"The Place of Psychedelics in Jungian Analysis"
These are just a few of the many topics covered by the Congress, which were summarized under the title: "Experiences of the Non-understandable: Jungian Explorations and Contributions."
We listened with pride to Goda Rukšaitė, long-time president of LAAP report “Not/understandable Sources of Resilience.” Illustrating the homestead created by Vilius Orvidas as an example of spiritual resistance to the Soviet system, Goda testified to the indestructibility of the human soul. Stories and images of stone resilience moved souls. After the report, the audience eagerly asked questions and told stories about their stones and their importance.
A special moment was the presentation of our Lithuanian analyst Giedrė Bulotienė on the mystery of death, in which she used the paintings of M.K. Čiurlionis. It is interesting that C.G. Jung and Čiurlionis were born in the same year – it seems that they are connected by something deeper. Čiurlionis' works left a great impression on the participants from other countries as well.
A huge event for our association and for all of Lithuania - during the Congress, LAAP representative Professor Gražina Gudaitė was chosen as the President Elect of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP). In three years, Gražina will take over the position of IAAP president. More about this in the LAAP press release (in Lithuanian):
analytical-psychology-association-president Congratulations and we are happy! We wish Gražina
success, endurance and health.
The Latvian and Ukrainian associations of our colleagues and LAAP members have been approved as full members of the IAAP (Group members) at the Congress. Congratulations to the Latvian Association of Jungian Analytical Psychology (LSJAP) and the Ukrainian Association of Analytical Psychology (UAAP)!
In addition to the informative presentations, events and happenings at the Congress, Zurich itself also offered many memorable experiences: swimming in the beautiful lake, boating, the stained glass windows of the Fraumünster Church created by Marc Chagall and August Giacometti, exhibitions at the Kunsthaus museum, the famous Lindt chocolate factory and other cultural events and attractions.
But the most special were the excursions to places that are directly related to the life and work of C.G. Jung:
Basel is the city where he grew up,
Burghölzli psychiatric hospital, where he worked,
The Animus Mundi Museum, which houses the works of Jung and his followers, such as Marie-Louise von Franz,
Jung's family home in Küsnacht ,
And finally – Bollingen Tower – a symbolic hut that Jung began to build in 1923 as a reflection of his inner world.
"Traveling through C. G. Jung's biographical and workplaces, especially staying in Bollingen, seems to have touched the deepest corners of my heart and opened up some kind of untouched inner layer—an experience of incomprehensibility." (Jolita)
This congress not only enriched us with knowledge – it created a common human space to share, connect, be. It is no coincidence that C.G. Jung’s great-grandson, who welcomed us to the Bollingen Tower, emphasized that this house was not only an expression of Jung’s inner process, but – above all – a place for SHARING. It was a place where Jung wanted to share discoveries, spaces, experiences.
Sigita Novikovienė, LAAP member candidate
Dovilė Petronytė Kvedarauskienė, President of LAAP
