Freud’s 4pm Session: The Wisdom of Darkness: An Exploration of Trauma and Descent.

Freud Museum London and Karnac Books take great pleasure to inform you of a special ‘In Conversation’ event to mark the publication of Richard Tyler’s new book As A Kite Falls – A Journey Through Descent.

Richard’s life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer in 2021. Having experienced life as a West-End performer, turned therapist, he was used to focusing on ascent – how to be better, faster and stronger. However, he was suddenly spiralled into darkness. This unexpected time offered him a place of quietening down in order that he listen to his soul’s whispers.

As a society, we have become fixated on ascent in our lives: achieving more, being quicker, and rising up. But what if we are missing the richest life lessons by repressing the difficulties we experience? Both ascent and descent are vital in life. Yet, whilst we are educated on how best to ascend and ‘grow up’, it is rare we are supported through our descent and the act of ‘growing down’. Instead, we are encouraged to hide those times from ourselves and others.

Many of us are currently on a journey of descent, whether it be personal; with health, relationships and fear, or collectively with the climate, financial and political crisis. It’s common in these times to feel helpless and that any change is out of our control as we grapple with the uncertainty. People are therefore often left to retreat within, feeling hopeless and lost.

With insight from Professor Brett Kahr, who has guided Richard since he was a teenager, they invite you to explore the darkness with them in this rich and valuable conversation.

“Until the culture recognises the legitimacy of growing down, each person in the culture struggles blindly to make sense of the darkness that the soul requires to deepen into life.” James Hillman

Richard Tyler, West-End Actor turned Therapist, is trained in Cognitive Hypnotherapy, Psychosynthesis, CBT, ACT, NLP, Emotional Intelligence, Barrett Values and Constellation Coaching. Richard loves using creative paradox and juxtaposed ideas in his writing including; masculine and feminine leadership, enlightenment and shadow work, ascent & descent and love & will. His first book Jolt, offers a creative and artful lens for people to learn and fully emerge in their talents and their being.

Professor Brett Kahr is Senior Fellow at the Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology in London and, also, Visiting Professor of Psychoanalysis and Mental Health at Regent’s University London. Additionally, he serves as Chair of the Scholars Committee of the British Psychoanalytic Council and, also, as a Lifetime Fellow of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. A trained historian as well as a clinician, he is Honorary Fellow and Honorary Director of Research at the Freud Museum London as well as Series Editor of the “Freud Museum London Series”. A long-standing media psychologist, Professor Kahr worked for many years as Resident Psychotherapist at the British Broadcasting Corporation, and he has become a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Media and Communication at Bournemouth University in recognition of his contributions to media psychoanalysis. Professor Kahr is the author of eighteen books and the series editor of over eighty-five further titles. His most Freud-friendly books include Life Lessons from Freud and Coffee with Freud (recently published in Chinese translation), as well as Freud’s Pandemics: Surviving Global War, Spanish War, and the Nazis. His next book, due for publication soon, is entitled Forensic Psychoanalysis: From Sub-Clinical Psychopaths to Serial Killers. A Consultant in Psychology to The Bowlby Centre and, also, a Consultant Psychotherapist at The Balint Consultancy, he works with both individuals and couples in independent practice in Holborn, in Central London.

Complement your visit to the Freud Museum with one of our weekly tours or talks led by staff, volunteers and guest speakers.

The talks are free with your admission ticket. Book your admission ticket now!

The event will be held on the first floor of the Museum during regular opening hours. Unfortunately the Freud Museum does not have step-free access at this time. Advance booking is highly recommended as capacity is limited.

Concessions/Members/Patrons: Please show proof of eligibility/membership card on arrival.