Aion Institute

This seminar follows the pioneering work of Philip Cushman in examining how psychodynamic psychotherapy, often perceived as an inward and apolitical practice, can serve as a form of political and cultural resistance. By attending to the unconscious dimensions of power, ideology, and social conditioning, psychotherapy has the potential to challenge the cultural narratives that shape and constrain personal identity. The course will explore the intersections of psyche and society, asking: How do social systems and historical forces become internalized as unconscious structures? In what ways can psychodynamic therapy foster not just individual healing, but also a more critical awareness of cultural oppression and systemic inequities? Topics include Philip Cushman’s critique of the “self-contained” self and the cultural-historical construction of psychological suffering, feminist perspectives on therapy as a site of resistance and empowerment, and the idea of the cultural complex (as developed by Thomas Singer and others) for understanding how collective archetypes shape and distort the psyche. Insights from critical theory and social justice frameworks that reveal the political undercurrents of psychological work. Through readings, discussion, and case study analysis, participants will consider how the therapeutic encounter can resist conformist and consumerist narratives, supporting clients in reclaiming agency, voice, and meaning. The seminar encourages a dialogue between inner and outer worlds, honoring psychotherapy as both a personal and cultural act of liberation.