University of Essex Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies

21/10/2026

📢 Freud Memorial Lecture 2026 with Josh Cohen

Join us for this years Freud Memorial Lecture, featuring acclaimed psychoanalyst, writer and cultural commentator Josh Cohen.

This promises to be a thought-provoking evening exploring psychoanalytic ideas and their relevance to contemporary life.

11 December 2026, 18:00. Attendance is available both in person and online.

🎟️ Book your free place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/freud-memorial-lecture-2026-with-josh-cohen-tickets-1994144670390

Everyone is welcome.

Please share with colleagues, students, practitioners, and anyone interested in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, culture and the human condition.

"The Compromised Unconscious: Ambiguity and Shame in Psychoanalysis, Art and Politics"

20/10/2026

Join us this December for the New Imago Forum 2026, a three-day conference exploring the theme of Trust through clinical, theoretical, cultural, philosophical and artistic perspectives.

📅 11-13 December 2026

📍 University of Essex, Colchester

Highlights include:

🔹 A pre-conference clinical session featuring Panos Vythoulkas and Susie Fowler-Watt

🔹 The Freud Memorial Lecture by Josh Cohen: The Compromised Unconscious: Ambiguity in Psychoanalysis, Art and Politics

🔹 Keynotes from leading scholars including Stephen Frosh, Mike Rustin, Richard Sha, Jan Andres Hartmann, Nihan Kaya, Susanne Lansman, Mustafa Selek, and Shireen Noor

🔹 Discussions on trust, faith, containment, aesthetics, cross-cultural perspectives and contemporary society

🔹 Networking opportunities, conference dinners and entertainment at Wivenhoe House

Whether you are a clinician, academic, researcher, student, or simply interested in psychoanalysis and contemporary social issues, this promises to be a rich and thought-provoking event.

Find out more and book your place: 🔗 https://www.essex.ac.uk/events/2026/12/11/new-imago-forum-2026

16/10/2026

🚨 Calling all local school and college students and teachers! 🚨

Join us at the Essex University Winter Insight Day for a fascinating taster session from the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies:

📚‘Psychoanalytic Criminology: Murder in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’

🎤 Delivered by Dr Chris Nicholson

📅 11 November 2026

⏰ 1.00pm – 2.00pm

📍 University of Essex, LTB

Discover how psychoanalytic ideas can help us understand crime, human motivation, and one of literature’s most famous murder mysteries.

Whether you're interested in psychology, criminology, literature, or the social sciences, this is a great opportunity to experience university-level learning and explore future study options.

If you are a local school or college student or teacher and would like to attend, find out more and register here: https://www.essex.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/events/insight-days

Join us at the University of Essex for our Insight Days, where we will be running a selection of different taster sessions across our teaching faculties.

14/10/2026

PPS Clinical Research Group Seminar

Join us for the next PPS Clinical Research Group seminar featuring Jo Levy, who will present research exploring therapists’ experiences of gender and sexuality diversity within UK university counselling services.

📅 Thursday 15 October 2026
🕕 6.00pm - 7.30pm
💻 Online via Zoom

This thought-provoking session examines the experiences of gender and sexuality diverse therapists working in higher education counselling services, including the opportunities, challenges and psychosocial dynamics that shape their professional practice.

The seminar will be of interest to researchers, clinicians, counselling professionals, students, and anyone interested in psychosocial approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health.

All welcome.

Email [email protected] for the zoom link.

13/10/2026

Explore Japanese Fairy Tales Through a Jungian Lens

Join the Centre for Myth Studies, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, for an open seminar with Professor Megumi Yama (Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Japan).

📅 Wednesday 14 October 2026
🕠 5.30pm - 7.00pm (BST)
📍 Room 5A.118, University of Essex
💻 Online attendance available

Professor Yama will explore Japanese fairy tales, including Urashima Taro and The Bush Warbler's Home, examining the Japanese psyche and the meaning of Mu (Nothingness) through a Jungian perspective.

All are welcome.

13/10/2026

Did you know an Essex graduate was an OG Traitor?

Fay Greaves appeared in the very first UK series of The Traitors, making it all the way to episode 10 as a Faithful.

A decade after graduating from Essex, Fay has built a career in the charity sector. We caught up with her to talk about her journey from studying Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations to the Traitors’ castle, the skills she took from Essex, and how her career led her to one of TV’s biggest psychological games.

12/10/2026

Please join us at this event tomorrow.

Postgraduate Forum Talk: Learning from Survivors

Join us for an important and thought-provoking discussion exploring the value of survivor-centred oral history research with survivors of human trafficking.

Learning from Survivors will reflect on the journeys, voices and lessons shared through doctoral research, examining how survivor narratives can inform psychosocial rehabilitation, policy, practice and education.

📅 Tuesday 13 October 2026
🕐 1.00pm
📍 NTC.2.02, University of Essex (Hybrid attendance available)

Led by Chinelo Nwosu, PhD Researcher and Psychosocial Support Expert.

Open to all staff and students.

26/08/2026

🎓 Kegerreis Bursary – £1,000 available

Are you entering Year 2 or Year 3 of the MA Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Essex?

You may be eligible to apply for the Kegerreis Bursary, which provides £1,000, paid in three instalments throughout the academic year, to help with clinical supervision costs.

📅 Application deadline: 31 August 2026

Applications are submitted to the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies ([email protected])

https://www.essex.ac.uk/departments/psychosocial-and-psychoanalytic-studies/scholarships-and-funding

If you’re eligible, don’t miss the deadline! 🌟

Discover scholarships, studentships, funds and prizes to help you apply and study in the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies.

21/08/2026

Registration is now open for the New Imago Forum 2026: Trust.
Join clinicians, researchers and scholars for an interdisciplinary weekend exploring the theme of Trust through psychoanalytic, social, political and artistic perspectives.

📅 11–13 December 2026
📍 University of Essex

Book your place today: https://www1.essex.ac.uk/online_shop/conference/default.aspx?conference=new-imago-forum-2026-trust

19/08/2026

Explore the Foundations of Jungian Psychology – Online Course at Essex

Are you curious about C.G. Jung’s analytical psychology and its key ideas? We are pleased to announce that we will once again offering our online seminar series titled Basic Jungian Concepts – designed for anyone with an interest in Jung’s thought and its contemporary applications.

This intensive and unique course provides a firm grounding in the essential concepts that distinguish Jungian theory from traditional psychoanalysis. Participants will explore central elements such as the collective unconscious, archetypes, complexes, psychological types, individuation, the Self, active imagination, unus mundus, and synchronicity. Seminars are built around key texts and include real-time discussions with expert lecturers.

We are recognised internationally for our expertise in Jungian and post-Jungian theory – making this online course an excellent opportunity for students, professionals, and lifelong learners alike to deepen their understanding of analytical psychology.

When: 28 September – 2 October 2026 (daily sessions, mornings and afternoons)
Where: Online
Cost: £375
Lecturers: Dr Ann Addison, Dr Orsolya Lukács, Professor Roderick Main, Dr Christian McMillan, and Dr Steve Myers

Whether you are beginning your journey into Jungian psychology or preparing for advanced study (e.g., the MA Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies at Essex), this course offers valuable insight into analytical psychology’s core ideas.

For more details and to book your place see:

Essex is a leading member of a small handful of universities in the world that provides cutting-edge expertise in Jungian and post-Jungian theory and applications. This intense and unique online course will give you a firm grounding in the key concepts of C.G. Jung’s analytical psychology. It will...