Vilja Hägglund
Vilja Hägglund (1931–2016) was a psychiatrist and training analyst who had a strong impact on psychoanalytic thinking in Finland. Especially the ideas of Donald D. Winnicott, Erik H. Eriksson and Judith Kestenberg inspired her theoretical thinking and led to create, together with her husband professor, writer and training analyst Tor-Björn Hägglund (1928–2004), new theoretical constructions. The most important of them concerns the inner space in the psychic development of a woman. First it was, also in Finland, a disputed idea, but later it found its place and enriched analytic thinking of the key aspects of human life.
Together with her husband and colleague Vilja wrote, among other topics, on fallicity and inner space experiences of women, on various aspects of inner space experiences, on the psychology of cat-human – relationship, on maturing as a woman and on the early world of mother and infant. In her writings she emphasized the significance of the inner space as the source of femininity and motherhood that a girl during the genital stage has to integrate into her body image. In 1985, she published the book Lohikäärmeentaistelu(A Battle of Dragons), which was inspired by Finnish mythology and folk tales. For years she wrote columns to the local newspaper Kaleva. In 1993 came out Vanhaset(The Oldies), a book which she considered as very important.
Vilja has reflected also on the essence and conditions of creativity. For her being creative means that the thoughts and emotions of an individual are free to open themselves and proceed freely in a way that initiates something new on the basis of the old routes. For being creative one has to both find herself and be capable of sharing one’s contribution with others.
Being internationally well-known Vilja was a major pioneer of psychoanalytic thinking in Northern Finland. After they had moved from Helsinki to Oulu in the 1970s, they found a stimulating and creative atmosphere that was favorable for psychoanalysis. In 1983 The Society for Psychotherapy in Northern Finland was founded, soon followed by the renowned Psychotherapy Foundation Monastery. Vilja was one of the founders and the chair of the Psychotherapy Foundation Monastery. It has trained therapists since 1985. Several therapists trained at the Monastery have deepened their studies in the training of The Finnish Psychoanalytic Society and have become analysts. Some of them have also become child and adolescent analysts.
Due to the activities of Vilja and Tor-Björn, the Monastery has built strong connections both to the Finnish Psychoanalytic Society and to international organizations. Thus, they had long-lasting contacts as well as friendships with colleagues around the world.
Vilja has been a mother of a large family. For her, children and grandchildren have been very important. Also, her love for animals has always been intensive. She passionately raised dogs in her own kennel for 20 years. Through that she also had many friendships. Love for nature and music were important for her in bringing space and rest.