Talk: Vampires & the Human Psyche

Why are we so drawn to vampires? What do they reveal about us?

Long before Hollywood, vampires started with folklore, born out of fear and superstition. Over the centuries, these figures have evolved into a key element of pop culture and left a lasting mark on our collective consciousness. From Dracula and Nosferatu to Lost Boys and our beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this talk will explore these enduring symbols and their connections to the human psyche.

Join Katie Evans in exploring why we both fear and love vampires, and how their stories resonate with us on a personal level. Through psychoanalysis, forensic psychology and the lens of gender and sexuality, we will dig deep into vampiric legend. From Freud and Jung to modern ideas of narcissism, we will explore how these blood-sucking figures represent otherness, internal struggles and the complexities that many of us face as humans.

Speaker Bio:

Katie Evans is a BACP-accredited therapist and self-confessed horror nerd. Her passion for all things spooky began in childhood and continued through her studies in music, film, and media at Liverpool University, before moving into the field of mental health. She holds advanced accreditation in GSRD Therapy (Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity). In addition, Katie has presented at conferences across Europe and has spoken for organisations including The Maudsley, the British Psychological Society, The NHS, LGBT Foundation, and HMPPS, among others. She is also a registered guest lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. An advocate for using pop culture in psychotherapy, Katie previously hosted The Mental Health Monsters Podcast and continues to explore how fictional narratives – especially those from the horror genre – can help us better understand ourselves.