Reflecting Critically on the Political Psyche: Therapy, Testament and Trouble in Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis
Book Announcement by Andrew Samuels (UK)
Samuels, A. (2025). Reflecting critically on the political psyche: Therapy, testament and trouble in psychoanalysis and Jungian analysis. Routledge.
Andrew Samuels presents powerful material on culture and politics in his latest book, Reflecting Critically on the Political Psyche: Therapy, Testament and Trouble in Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis (Routledge).
In this volume, Samuels continues developing his celebrated work bringing therapy thinking to bear on politics. There is a chapter on political violence, commentary on Edward Albee’s shocking play, The Goat, and a provocative and critical view on liberal idealisation of the Other.
In a clinical section, Samuels shows us what he means by the dynamic idea of the activist client. He explores how to organise a good training (you must use pluralism) and offers a robust account of what a critical psychotherapy might look like.
A section on Jungian matters includes Samuels’ work on Jung and ‘race,’ and a balance sheet for Jungian analysis, setting its strengths and weaknesses alongside each other. Each chapter of the book is preceded by a special retrospective introduction and includes experiential exercises to ground the book’s ideas.
Andrew Samuels, D.H.L. has made notable contributions to psychotherapy, Jungian analysis and studies, and psychoanalysis for over 50 years. He is a relational Jungian psychoanalyst, professor, activist, and political consultant (including to Britain’s National Health Service). He founded or co-founded many organisations, including Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility (PCSR) and Analysis and Activism. His many books have been translated into up to 21 languages. These include The Political Psyche (1993), Politics on the Couch (2001), Persons, Passions, Psychotherapy, Politics (2015), and A New Therapy for Politics (2018). He has received two Festschrifts.
Andrew Samuels, D.H.L.
London, England, UK
Email Andrew Samuels
www.andrewsamuels.com