Biography

Beaty Popescu completed her doctoral level Diploma of Analytical Psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland in 2004. This 5 year post graduate, training program involved lectures, seminars and colloquiums in analytical psychology, psychoanalytic theory, psychology, psychiatry, ethnology, comparative science of religions, dream studies, studies in mythology and fairytales, as well as psychiatric internships, 2½ years of supervised clinical work, comprehensive examinations, an academic thesis and its defense, and in-depth, personal, Jungian analysis.

Popescu’s research and diploma thesis focuses on the psychology of creativity. The thesis itself is structured around five central focuses: firstly the ‘mystery of creation’ and its connection to the human, creative drive, which is form-giving; secondly ‘play’ is explored as a goalless, creative dynamic, which allows us to bring awareness and the light of consciousness to unconscious material; thirdly ‘creation and destruction’ is looked at from the point of view of a cycling, which affects our living, dying and being psychologically re-born; fourthly ‘suffering and its creative purpose’ is discussed along with how neurosis and human dis-ease can be meaning-producing and potentially lead to transformation and growth; and fifthly how our ‘human communing with the unconscious’ is looked at as a symbol-creating dynamic, where we give form to that which rises up out of the unconscious. Here Popescu specifically discusses the use of visual creativity and expression. She explores how we commune with the unknown mystery, via the personal and archetypal unconscious, through our conscious awareness.

Popescu completed her last three years of high school and her first three years of university in Germany (Heidelberg University, Stuttgart Kunst Akademie). After completing an honors Bachelors degree in Fine Arts (York University), a Bachelors degree in Education (University of Toronto) and a Masters degree in Fine Arts (NSCAD University), Popescu taught visual art in the public and high school system, in adult education and then continued on to have a successful university teaching career as an Associate Professor in the Fine Arts department of Memorial University of Newfoundland (1990 – 2000). Her teaching career and studio practice took her to be a Visiting Artist and lecturer in such institutions as the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Florida in Gainesville U.S.A., the Washington University in St. Louis Missouri U.S.A., the Nova Scotia University of Art and Design in Halifax Nova Scotia, the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, and York University in Toronto. Since 1980 she has pursued a serious studio practice and has exhibited her art work extensively in Canada, as well as in the United States and Europe. Popescu’s creative work was and still is concerned with human psychology and the dynamics of the psyche.

Since completing her training in Analytical Psychology in Zurich Switzerland (1999-2004), Popescu has given numerous lectures and workshops on various topics relating to Jungian Depth Psychology in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, St. John’s and Corner Brook Newfoundland, Zurich Switzerland, and in the United States in Denver, Boulder and Chicago. These public events covered such topics as the ‘Psychology of Imagination and Creativity’, ‘Active Imagination and the Symbolic Life’, ‘Creative Potentials’, ‘Dream Work’, an ‘Introduction to Jungian Analytic Psychology’, ‘Symbols and their Psychological Significance’, and ‘Gateways to the Divine: Psychological and Spiritual Connections’.

The three main trainings Popescu has taken since establishing herself in private practice are: Mindfulness Stress Reduction (Jon Kabat-Zinn), Voice Dialogue (Hal and Sidra Stone), Meditation Practices and Buddhist Philosophy.

Beaty Popescu was in supervised practice in Zurich Switzerland (2002-2004), in private practice in Ottawa Ontario (2004-2008) and presently has a private practice in Halifax Nova Scotia (2008- to the present). She works with a number of therapeutic modalities, the most prevalent being talk therapy, and where helpful incorporates active imagination, psycho-drama, mindfulness practice, voice dialogue, sand tray practice, as well as creative and expressive processes such as drawing, painting and writing.