WCP 2025

Statement of the problem: Creativity can serve to transform constructively despair, hate and violence. But creative efforts to cope with depression and aggression can also fail.
Methodology & theoretical Orientation: Summarizing the “Big Five of Creativity” as a result of creativity research we show on the example of Madonna, Amy Winehouse and Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison how eminent creative Pop-Icons treat personal despair and hate but also collective violence. Finally, we draw conclusions in respect to everyday creativity and psychotherapy.
Findings: The “Big Five of Creativity” - gifts and talents (1), skills and knowledge (2), motivation and discipline (3), flexibility and resilience (4), supportive and challenging environments (5) - interact in the creative transformation of despair, hate and violence. Investigating the lives and works of extraordinarily creative Pop-Stars like Madonna and Amy Winehouse, Jim Morrison and Mick Jagger it is shown how the creative transformation can succeed but also how it can fail.
Conclusions: Extraordinary and everyday creativity are elementary means to cope with despair, hate and violence. They are necessary to lead a fulfilling personal life in social responsibility. Creativity can be effective in different approaches to psychotherapy: relational (A), behavioral (B), cognitive (C), psychodynamic-psychoanalytic (D) and existential (E) (see Holm-Hadulla 2021).

Current times are plagued with crises, but also major advances have been made concerning the promotion of mental health and wellbeing which is the foundation of the work of psychotherapists.  This plenary will present historic events, agreements and resolutions that have been passed at the United Nations that are critical for all psychotherapists to know about as they support their work. These importantly and in some cases surprisingly include support of the arts and culture, as well as resolutions related to love and human consciousness, and practices that include yoga and meditation, that are important to WCP members and essential to their work.  The tripartite model will be presented as a context where advocacy complements clinical work and research. Techniques for advocacy will be presented as well as the specifics of the agreements, and how psychotherapists can participate in the work on the global stage and bring the “Polarities of Life” together to enhance their work and their impact on people in their practice, communities, societies, and world.