WCP 2025

How do we respond to threat and anxiety — by avoiding, provoking, or transforming? Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, Markus Fäh presents three archetypal modes of dealing with fear: the Fearful Rabbit, the Rebel, and the Pioneer. While the first two reflect avoidance and destructive defiance, the Pioneer embodies conscious courage and creative action. This keynote explores how therapists can recognize and work with these inner polarities to support psychological growth in times of crisis — aligning with the congress theme “Polarities of Life.”