It’s been more than a half century since the death of psychiatrist Carl Jung, but his theories about human thought are still influencing professionals within the field today. At an event organized by the C.G. Jung Society of Sarasota, the legendary figure’s influence as it realates to addiction will be explored. 

David Shoen, a certified Jungian analyst and writer of The War of the Gods in Addiction, will present a lecture on the subject matter this Friday at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and a related workshop will be held on Saturday. Society leaders say the effort will show the enduring legacy of Jung. “It’s still very present,” said Magida Diouri, executive director of the Society, of Jung’s influence. “It’s not something that has disappeared, which is pretty amazing for something so old.” Shoen’s book looks at the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery program and explores its effectiveness through such Jungian concepts as the Archetypal Shadow and Archetypal Evil. The book also looks at how dream analysis can be used in diagnosing and treating addiction.

Schoen’s lecture on “The Psychodynamics of Addiction, Treatment and Recovery” will be held Friday at 7pm in the hospital’s Waldemere Auditorium. A workshop on “Archetypal Evil of Addiction in Fairy Tale, Myth and Religion” will be held at 10am Saturday at the same venue, and will include an in-depth exploration of addiction, including the creation of an addiction-shadow complex. The lecture is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers, while the workshop costs $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers. Discounts are available for buying tickets to both, and full-time students with ID can get a discount price at the door. Learn more at cgjungsarasota.org.