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Senex, Puer, and My Jungian Clinical Approach: On the Way to Zurich for the IAAP Congress
- Dr. MJ Yang
- Aug 24
- 3 min read
As I write this blog high above the Atlantic Ocean, on my way from San Francisco to Zurich, I feel both anticipation and reflection.
I am traveling to attend the XXIII International Congress of Analytical Psychology (IAAP), taking place August 24–29, 2025, in Zurich Switzerland. This international gathering brings together Jungian psychologists from around the world, offering a space to learn, share, and deepen our understanding of the psyche.
This year’s Congress is especially meaningful, as it coincides with the 150th anniversary of C.G. Jung’s birth.
For someone like me, who has built a practice around weaving Jungian depth psychology into modern clinical work, this feels like both a homecoming and an inspiration.
My Presentation: Senex and Puer
I will be presenting my poster titled Creating Space for the Experiences of the Non-understandable from Wisdom of the Senex-Puer. (Digital Poster Exhibition| IAAP2025 ) on Thursday, August 28, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in Seezimmer 1A.
The title may sound academic, but the essence is simple and very human:
how do we balance the practical side of therapy—problem solving, symptom relief, and structure—with the soulful side of therapy—dreams, meaning, and imagination?
Introducing Senex and Puer in Jungian Perspective
In Jungian psychology, this balance is captured by two archetypes: Senex and Puer in Jungian perspective.
The Senex represents tradition, stability, and maturity. It’s the part of us that values structure, discipline, and responsibility. In therapy, Senex shows up as evidence-based approaches like CBT, psychoeducation, and skills that help clients regain stability and function.
The Puer, by contrast, embodies youth, vision, and possibility. It’s the spark that inspires us to dream bigger, reach for meaning, and imagine new possibilities for ourselves. In therapy, Puer is present when we explore symbols, dreams, and deeper layers of the psyche.
Why Both Are Needed
Both are essential.
When Senex dominates, life can become rigid, dry, and overly focused on control.
When Puer takes over, we risk floating into fantasy without grounding.
But when the two are in dialogue, healing becomes both practical and meaningful. Therapy is then not just about “fixing problems,” but also about creating space for what cannot yet be fully understood.
My Clinical Style
This balance reflects my clinical style.
Many clients first come to me when they are in crisis—they need immediate support, tools to manage distress, and clarity to move forward. That’s the Senex at work.
But over time, I also invite them into the deeper exploration of dreams, unconscious material, and the journey toward self-understanding—the work of the Puer.
Both parts are honored, and together they create a fuller path of healing.
Looking Ahead
As I head toward Zurich, I carry both excitement and gratitude: excitement to learn, connect, and be inspired by colleagues from around the world, and gratitude that I can bring these insights back into my practice.
Therapy, like this journey across continents, is about bridging worlds: the measurable and the mysterious, the known and the not-yet-known, the Senex and the Puer.
I look forward to sharing more from this Congress with you in the weeks ahead.
📌 Follow along and stay connected
For now, I’ll leave you with a reflection:
in your own life, where do you notice the Senex—structure, stability, responsibility—and where do you notice the Puer—imagination, possibility, inspiration? And how might your own journey be enriched by allowing these two voices to speak to each other?
