Friday: Dr. Schoen will present an overview of the psychodynamics of addiction, treatment and recovery through the dual lenses of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Jungian psychology. This will be based on the famous correspondence between Bill W. (cofounder of AA) and C. G. Jung. He will describe the development of a typical addiction, its true nature, the importance of archetypal shadow/archetypal evil in the addiction process and why the principles of the 12 steps of AA are the most effective treatment approach in addressing an addiction. This lecture would be relevant for individuals interested in Jungian psychology, alcoholism and addiction dynamics, recovery, and the existence of archetypal shadow/archetypal evil in our world, as well as the general public.
Saturday: The workshop entitled "Archetypal Evil of Addiction in Fairy Tale, Myth and Religion" will be an in depth exploration of the psychodynamics of addiction, treatment and recovery, including the creation of the addiction-shadow-complex. David will address what is involved in the healing process of the (AA) 12 steps from this perspective. He will amplify the concept of archetypal evil and shadow in myth, fairy tale and religion in both ancient and modern times. He will touch on how “Using” dreams of alcoholic and addicted individuals (when someone dreams of participating in his or her own addictive behavior), can be significant in diagnosis, prognosis and treatments. The workshop with be of value for analysts, counselors, 12 step members and their families, as well as for anyone interested in learning more about addictive behavior.
Presenter biography:
David Schoen, LCSW, MSSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Jungian Analyst practicing in Covington, Louisiana, near New Orleans. He has a background as an alcoholism chemical dependency counselor. He is senior analyst in the Inter Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, cofounder and coordinator of the New Orleans Jungian Training Seminar and advisor to the C. C. Jung Society of Baton Rouge. David lectures and teaches nationally, has published internationally, and is a Louisiana poet. His books include Divine Tempest: The Hurricane as a Psychic Phenomenon (1998), and The War of the Gods in Addiction: C. G. Jung, Alcoholics Anonymous and Archetypal Evil (2009), and Always a Fighting Tiger: Memoirs of one Ordinary LSU Football Fan(2014).
