Workshop: 'Spiritual Life and Culture'

The workshop "Spiritual Life and Culture," jointly organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the Resource Center, French School of Psychology, took place over two days, July 23 and 24.

The main focus of the workshop revolved around the influence of culture on people's mental well-being. Delegates presented the latest research findings in therapeutic psychology regarding the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, based on studies of the influence of cultural factors on the formation of human psychology.

Nowadays, as society develops and human social relationships expand, and the influx and impact of foreign cultures become increasingly strong, people's spiritual lives are undergoing more changes. Many different pathological variations have emerged, with varying origins and symptoms, and diverse and complex manifestations. So, how have these cultural changes affected the emergence of mental illnesses, and how can these research findings be applied to the diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients? To answer these questions, the reports delve into analyzing many specific issues such as: the relationship between family and culture in the approach to individual psychodrama; the changing states of human consciousness in distinction from pathology; the ego and the inner world; the relationship between human health and urban development; art and the reflection of the human soul; and the analysis and diagnosis of some modern diseases…

Other reports have mentioned various therapeutic practices that, while still new in Vietnam, are widely applied in developed countries, such as hypnosis, therapies that promote relaxation of body and mind, traditional shamanism, and health preservation techniques.

The workshop attracted a large number of doctors and psychology experts from France and Vietnam.