Erich Fromm [1900-1980] was a truly an exceptional figure. He lived through eight decades of the 20th Century. We still have much to rediscover from his life’s work, which actively engaged a fracturing world. Fields as broad as psychoanalysis, sociology, economics, critical theory and philosophy have all benefited from his accessible style and courageous focus. Indeed, his highly influential ideas—including ‘love’ ‘listening’ ‘hope’ and ‘social justice’—expressed throughout his prolific career have gained rightful recognition decades after his death.   

The three webinars will roughly follow a chronological order: (1) his early life, key influences and emergence of a refined social-theoretical psychoanalytic foundation, (2) key clinical contributions and technique from love and listening, and finally, (3) how his ideas match with contemporary issues and have been taken up by current scholars and therapists to address global concerns. Central ideas, select publications, and comments by Fromm scholars will be curated throughout the series to bring back to life relevant practical applications for work in 2025.

Series Learning Objectives
•    Review and apply useful ideas of one of the 20th Century’s most insightful psychotherapists
•    Expand awareness into some of the first critical approaches to the dangers of authoritarianism 
•    Situate Fromm’s less recognised influence on both early critical theory and evolving psychoanalysis 
•    Grasp one the first systematic efforts to integrate the ‘social’ with the more classical psychoanalytic ‘individual/internal’
•    Refresh our Frommian skills on loving, listening and engaging a having-versus-being perspective
•    Find inspiration for approaching today’s troubling times from someone who experienced most of the last century’s highs and lows  

Individual sessions (90-minute) learning objectives

Saturday, 22nd of February, 2025 (Session 1): Erich Fromm: The emergence of an important critical humanist

The opening session starts with a brief biographical sketch—including his first partner and fellow psychoanalyst Frieda Fromm-Reichman. The major focus for the webinar is the lasting clinical and practical importance of Fromm’s contributions to Neo-Freudian interpersonal psychotherapy. Three early formative experiences will be addressed: his relationship with Orthodox Freudianism; less known participation in the emergence of ‘critical theory’ at the Frankfurt School; and prescient approach to emerging threats of global authoritarianism. 

By the end of the session, participants will:
•    Gain insight into how Fromm integrated the social with the individual in psychotherapy
•    Explore the practical ground-breaking 1942 Escape from Freedom
•    Reacquaint ourselves with the clinical heritage bequeathed by the Neo-Freudian interpersonal emergence, thanks to Fromm’s role as co-founder of the William Alanson White Institute (WAWI)

Saturday, 22nd of March, 2025 (Session 2): Erich Fromm: ‘Love’s Prophet’1—Love and listening in psychotherapy

The noted historian, Lawrence J. Friedmann’s 2013 biography describes Fromm as ‘Love’s Prophet.’ Fromm was practically focussed on effective therapy. He provided an empathy-based model for a therapeutic relationship based on love and listening. He also encouraged therapists to value client experience over interpretation, embracing more current and experience-near models of human development. The webinar will offer a few areas for practice reflection, especially countertransference and Fromm’s idea of love. 

By the end of the session, participants will:
•    Refresh our working knowledge of Fromm’s two great clinical works: The Art of Love and The Art of Listening 
•    Reconsider how Fromm integrated the social within historically individual in psychotherapy
•    Explores implications of ‘love’ for healthy boundaries for interpersonal dynamics

Saturday, 3rd of May, 2025 (Session 3): Erich Fromm: ‘Prophetic Analyst’1—Having-and-Being in the 21st Century

In describing Erich Fromm’s contribution to psychoanalysis, Cortina and Maccoby (1996) coined the term ‘Prophetic Analyst’1. This concluding webinar brings Fromm’s conceptual dynamic of Having-and-Being into dialogue with the great challenges facing our macroworld—climate change, social inequality, unending war—and their spillovers into our microworld of the therapy space. 

By the end of the session, participants will:
•    Explore and apply Fromm’s ‘having-and-being’ dynamic to therapy work
•    Review selected highlights from Psychoanalytic Inquiry 2024 “Special Edition: Erich Fromm’s Relevance for Our Troubled World”
•    Revisit the role embracing uncertainty across Fromm’s work  

1This series title combines terms from titles by Friedman (2013) [‘Love’s Prophet’] and Cortina & Maccoby (1977) [‘Prophetic Analyst’] and reintroduces these within Session 2 and 3 titles respectively. 

Venue: Online on Zoom. Includes access to video recording for 30 days.

Dates: Saturday, 22nd of February, 2025, 22nd of March, 2025 & 3rd May, 2025 (Three Sessions)

Time: 1100hrs to 1230hrs (Sydney/Melbourne Time)

Cost: 99.99 For all the three sessions 

CPD Certificate: 4.5 hours. 

About Dr Kevin Keith: Kevin is a counsellor, psychotherapist, supervisor and academic. He has been a therapist for nearly 15 years. He completed his PhD in 2017 at the University of Sydney focusing on theoretical questions around the status of post-infancy preschool developments within Attachment Theory. His academic interests also include emotions research, philosophy of science and the empirical status of longer-term psychotherapy. He also provides professional development to colleagues across several professions. He has been working in the field of mental health since 2005, including 10 years work in the community health sector. Kevin has been teaching counselling In Sydney since 2007.

About eiseEducation: eiseEducation is a thought-leading education consultancy that delivers exceptional training to higher education, corporate and community sectors. We work from the insightful understanding of each client’s unique situation to deliver bespoke courses and exceptional results. Find out more at eiseeducation.com

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