Shadow, Symbol, and Sexuality: Integrating Sex Therapy and Art Therapy Through Depth Psychology

This didactic, experiential, and interpersonal workshop introduces an emerging, integrative approach that unites sex therapy and art therapy through a depth psychology framework, offering clinicians innovative ways to address the symbolic, somatic, and relational dimensions of human sexuality. While sex therapy traditionally emphasizes cognitive and behavioral interventions, and art therapy centers on nonverbal expression and emotional processing, their combined application remains vastly underexplored. Grounded in Jungian principles, including the shadow, symbolic imagery, and the transcendent function, this workshop explores how creative processes can illuminate unconscious material that shapes sexual identity, desire, intimacy, and embodied experience. The didactic portion will orient participants to depth psychological concepts relevant to sexuality, including how disowned or repressed aspects of the psyche manifest in erotic life, embodiment, and relational patterns. Participants will examine clinical literature demonstrating the benefits of integrating symbolic expression with sexual health interventions, particularly when working with couples, trauma survivors, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and clients experiencing somatic disconnection. The experiential component invites participants to engage in guided art-making designed to access implicit sexual narratives and embodied awareness. Through symbolic drawing and gentle somatic-attuned mark-making, participants will explore how creative processes surface hidden beliefs, fears, and desires related to sexuality, while also cultivating curiosity and psychological safety. The interpersonal segment will involve structured small-group or dyadic dialogue (adapted for cultural comfort and consent), supporting participants in reflecting on the emergent imagery and its clinical applications. Emphasis will be placed on how these methods deepen therapeutic attunement, relational repair, and understanding of non-verbal communication in couples work. Together, these components provide a comprehensive introduction to a depth-oriented, creative, and culturally responsive model that enhances therapeutic work with diverse sexual concerns. Participants will leave with practical interventions, theoretical grounding, and future directions for research and global clinical practice.