With the first signs of fall comes a wealth of training and development opportunities for the Bay Area's analytic community. Events listed this month promise to shed analytic light on a compellingly diverse array of topics -- among them the culture industry, the evolving view of male sexuality, and the practice of archeology.

Also in this issue, NCSPP President Beth Steinberg invites nominations for the NCSPP Community Service Award; Alla Volovich offers a portrait of Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS); our guest blogger examines the thorny process of selecting a control case for analytic training; and PINC spotlights an upcoming event on the intersection of analysis and neuroscience.

We hope you enjoy this month's issue, and we hope you'll join NCSPP to assist us in fostering a vibrant psychoanalytic community in Northern California.

I would like to invite you to nominate a clinician for the NCSPP Community Service Award. This will be our second annual presentation of this award for outstanding community service by someone in the field of psychoanalytic psychology. In taking the opportunity to honor someone in our field for their community service, we want to underscore the importance of the work of building community and its vital role in the development of the social good. Such work is often under-recognized in our field; we see one of our roles at NCSPP as providing a central place for psychoanalysis to flourish in as an inclusive way as possible, and to reach out to and find a dialogue with other institutions and populations. We also see ourselves as having a responsibility to the larger social context and to furthering the social good.

In that spirit, nominees for this award should demonstrate excellence in leadership, creative commitment to social welfare, and dedication to community service.

If you would like to nominate someone, please write a paragraph description on why you think the individual should be honored, and send it via our online form. Nominees do not have to be members of NCSPP. We will announce the award in IMPULSE and present it at the NCSPP holiday party on December 8, 2006. As always, if you have questions, please email me at besteinberg@comcast.net.

Beth Steinberg, Ph.D.
President, NCSPP

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Founded in 1974, Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS) is a private non-profit mental health agency providing community-based, consumer-guided, culturally competent and multilingual services that meet the mental health, vocational, residential, social, and educational needs of San Francisco's diverse community. With over 30 years of experience providing comprehensive and culturally competent services to the community, RAMS offers bilingual and bicultural services in over 17 languages and dialects, including Russian and many Asian languages/dialects.

RAMS also offers a broad range of clinical training programs, including the Pre-doctoral Psychology Internship (APA accredited since 1980), Post-doctoral Psychology Training, and Clinical Practicum for students of psychology, counseling, and social work as well as practical training for psychiatric residents and nursing students.

The RAMS Training Center was the country's first program to focus on developing psychologists with expertise in working with the Asian and Pacific Islander populations. Every year, the program accepts 15 to 20 students, with preference to those interested in cultural competence and working with underserved communities. The rich diversity of RAMS' clients, training supervisors, and treatment team affords students opportunities to hone their clinical skills while learning culturally specific treatment strategies and developing professional sensitivity to issues of diversity.

RAMS' psychodynamic training emphasizes contemporary relational approaches to working with chronically disturbed patients, who make up a substantial proportion of our clientele. Last year, RAMS began a collaboration with the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute whose members provide clinical supervision, serve as discussants at monthly Child and Adult Clinical Case Conferences, and conduct didactic trainings on clinical issues.

For more information about RAMS see our web site.

Alla Volovich, Ph.D.
Training Director
RAMS, Inc.

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The term "blog" refers to a web-based journal wherein individuals offer up their personal experiences to anyone with a web browser. The editors at IMPULSE seek out local analytic candidates willing to "blog" their experience in training. Our guest blogger is finishing a residency in psychiatry and is a second year candidate at a psychoanalytic training institute. This piece, "Second Thoughts," examines the intricacies of selecting a control case.

At the end of the session, he sticks out his hand. I blink and pause for a moment. I think back.

"...I think I can help him," I remember telling my supervisor. "But I don't know if he would be a good analytic case. I don't know if he would be appropriate." I twitch nervously.

I say this, but I already know the answer to my own question. Of course, he would be an excellent control case. He is intelligent, psychologically-minded, neurotic range, has a stable, decent job, and he is not planning on going anywhere in the near future.

So I wonder. What is all this hesitation?

My own analyst's voice now echoes in my mind: "We are talking about a very intimate and close relationship."

Bewildered, I am struck by the strength of the transference and countertransference already manifest in this only once-a-week therapy. I am his paralyzed father whom he idealizes so intensely. He sits in my chair and exhibits a castrating, starting and stopping staccato. For him to supersede his father would mean to suffer his same fate. So he remains supremely ineffectual both in therapy and in his outside life.

This I can see. It's like a burr. And I know I could remove it. I see the treatment path we would take. But as I look into his eyes, I hesitate.

What about the enactments? What about all those feelings? Will I allow myself the hate and rage and, perhaps most importantly and most terrifyingly, love?

What is this work we do, anyways? Why even charge a fee?

Without meaning to, I shake his hand. He smiles and exits the room, looking down timidly, and I am left with a feeling of marked anxiety.

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Crossing the Synapse: Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience Join Forces
Saturday, October 21, 2006
UCSF Mission Bay Center

Launched in 2006 with a remarkable conference with Dr. Mark Solms, PINC's neuropsychoanalytic program presents an equally compelling speaker, Dr. Jaak Panksepp, this October 21. As founder of affective neuroscience, Panksepp poses evocative questions: Are emotions specific to humans or shared by animals? Do rats really laugh when tickled? Are there core human emotions?

Dr. Panksepp presents seven emotional systems and defines their role in the analytic cure. He'll describe the play and separation distress systems, and their connection with autism and ADHD. He'll discuss new pharmacological treatments, stressing that they work only in a socially supportive environment.

Upcoming speakers include Regina Pally, January 27, and Oliver Turnbull, May 19. Mark Smaller will discuss all three presentations.

Study groups begin January in San Francisco and September in Berkeley. Acclaimed neuroscientist/psychoanalyst Maggie Zellner will instruct by teleconference, moderated by Neuropsychoanalytic Committee members.

More on the conferences or study groups: (415) 922-4050 or pincsf@sbcglobal.net.

Want EVENT SPOTLIGHT to shine on your upcoming analytic happening? You'll find our submission guidelines illuminating.


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Appointment Book offers a sampling of the psychoanalytically oriented events taking place in Northern California over the coming month. Where available, simply click an event title to view details on the sponsoring organization's web site.

Friends of SFPI&S Mentoring Program Kick-Off Event
Tue, Oct 3 (begins) / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
Friends of SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / pre-registration required / free to Friends

San Francisco Student Outreach: Working with Couples
Wed, Oct 4 (begins) / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Kristine Pfleiderer, Ph.D. / free

Seminars for Scholars: Conceptualizing Change in Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Wed, Oct 4 (begins) / 7 - 8:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Neil Talkoff, Ph.D. / free

Attachment: Six Week Study/Consultation Group
Wed, Oct 4 (begins) / 11 AM - 1 PM / 1330 Lincoln Avenue, # 201 / San Rafael
Community Institute for Psychotherapy / (415) 459-5999 x101 / Linda Graham, MFT / $180 - $200

Child Colloquia
Sat, Oct 7 / 9:30 AM - 12 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Amy Tyson, M.D.; Stanley Cath, M.D.; Judith Wallerstein, Ph.D. / free

Scientific Meeting with Haydee Faimberg, M.D.
Mon, Oct 9 / 7:30 - 9:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-4477 / Haydee Faimberg, M.D. / free

Finding Meaning in Psychotically Organized Mental States: An Analytic View
Fri, Oct 13 (begins) / 12 - 2 PM / 1330 Lincoln Avenue, # 201 / San Rafael
Community Institute for Psychotherapy / (415) 459-5999 x101 / Philip M. Alex, Ph.D. / $50 - $60

Dialogues in Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Sat, Oct 14 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / 415-563-4477 / Haydee Faimberg, M.D.; Jed Sekoff, Ph.D. / $35 - $45

What Is He Thinking? A New Theory of Male Sexuality
Sat, Oct 14 / 9 AM - 4 PM / Town Center, 770 Tamalpais Drive, / Corte Madera
Community Inst. for Psychotherapy / (415) 459-5999 x101 / Michael Bader, D.M.H. / $100 - $140

Seminars for Scholars: Psychoanalysis in Interpretation of Archaeological Sites
Sat, Oct 14 / 9 AM - 12 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Linda Donley-Reid, Ph.D. / free

Law, Ethics & Personal Values: What's a Therapist To Do?
Sat, Oct 14 / 9 AM - 3:30 PM / 9 Funston Ave / San Francisco
SFPRG / (415) 561-6771 / Jules Burstein, Ph.D. / $85

SFPI&S Friends Clinical Forum
Tue, Oct 17 / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
Friends of SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / H. Molesworth, Ph.D.; J. Dunn, Ph.D. / free to Friends

Conversations on Culture Salon Series: The Culture Industry
Thu, Oct 19 / 7 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
Friends of SFPI&S / RSVP (415) 563-5815 / Dr. Peter Selz; Lee Grossman, M.D. / $15

E. Bay Student Outreach: Some Ethical Dilemmas Analysts Currently Think About
Sat, Oct 21 / 10 AM - 1 PM / Herrick Hospital / Berkeley
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Susan Warshaw, Ph.D. / free

Crossing the Synapse: Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience Join Forces
Sat, Oct 21 / 12 - 5 PM / UCSF Mission Bay / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 922-4050 / Dr. Jaak Panksepp & Dr. Mark Smaller / $40 - $100

On The Need For A Father In Development and Psychotherapy
Fri, Oct 21 / 9 AM - 1 PM / Elks Lodge, 4249 El Camino Real / Palo Alto
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Alan Kessler, Ph.D. / $100

Poetry & Psychoanalysis
Sun, Oct 22 / 4 - 5:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-4477 / Dan Bellm / free

Introduction to Elizabeth Tabak de Bianchedi
Wed, Oct 25 / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-4477 / Eileen Keller, Ph.D. / free

Stanford Grand Rounds: Thoughts on War, Aggression, Killing & Aggressiveness
Wed, Oct 25 / 6:15 - 7:30 PM / Stanford Psychiatry building, 401 Quarry Rd. / Stanford
SFPI&S / (415) 563-4477 / Richard Almond, M.D. / free

Sausalito Salon: Art Raisman, Ph.D., on Group & Individual Work
Fri, Oct 27 / 6:30 - 9 PM / location provided to registrants / Sausalito
NCSPP / (415) 309-0222 / Art Raisman, Ph.D. / $15 - $20

Unveiled: Shame, Identity, Gender, and Iranian Cinema
Sat, Oct 28 / 9 AM - 5 PM / UC Berkeley Art Museum Theater, 2621 Durant Avenue / Berkeley
NCSPP / (415) 457-9949 / J. Copjec, Ph.D.; M. Mann, M.D.; N. Mottahedeh, Ph.D. / $20 - $75

Psychoanalytic Preschool Consultation Project: Annual Meeting
Wed, Nov 1 / 7:30 - 9:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Holly Veldhuis, Ph.D. / free

The Psychology of Medications
Sat, Nov 4 / 9 AM - 4:30 PM / JCC/SF California St. at Presidio Ave / San Francisco
SFPRG / (415) 561-6771 / S. Foreman, M.D.; M. Lowenstein, M.D.; N. Sohn, Ph.D., LCSW; P. Wood, Ph.D. / $85.00

To submit an event, please see our submission guidelines.

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INTERVIEW SUBJECT NEEDED: Habitat Media seeks a licensed psychotherapist to interview on-camera for a documentary that examines the state of our democracy. We seek an insightful, energetic and fun approach. Call Steve Cowan (415) 458-1696.

CASE CONSULTATION GROUP: Cohesive group with synthetic orientation of different schools of psychoanalysis. Led by Alan Kessler, Ph.D. faculty SFPI. Saratoga (South Bay), Friday Mornings. (408) 868-9405.

CASE CONFERENCE: Psychoanalytic case conference and study group. Friday afternoons in Oakland. Annie Sweetnam, (510) 428-2913.

EATING DISORDER CONSULTATION & READING GROUP: One Monday evening per month beginning October 2006, 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Location to be detrmined in the Penninsula/South Bay area. Individual sponsors: Ann Martini, LCSW, (408) 358-1862, and Jana Kahn, Ph.D., (650) 947-0262.

STUDY GROUP: Well-established psychoanalytic study group meets weekly from Sept-May, Fridays, 12:30-2 pm at PINC in SF. Weekly classes include reading, discussion, some case presentation. Each year we explore different topics with four different instructors per year. One year commitment required. Contact Brook Stone, L.C.S.W. at (415) 789-8527 or Greg Clinton, Ph.D. at (415) 255-6213.

OFFICE FOR SALE: Individual psychotherapy suite in professional building near Mt. Zion. Private entrance, large consulting room, wait and bath rooms, closet, storage, built-in book cases and cabinets, parking. $139K. Call Dr. Jim Faircloth, (415) 931-4333.

PSYCHOANALYTIC CASE CONSULTATION GROUP: Mind-Body Issues, Fostering Psyche-Soma Integration. Mondays beginning in the fall, 10:30 AM - 12:00, 5845 College Avenue, Oakland, Dori Dubin, Psy.D., (510) 547-2522, $40 per meeting.

GET INVOLVED AND CONNECT: IMPULSE seeks a meticulous, web-savvy volunteer as EVENTS EDITOR. Be first to know about psychoanalytic events while connecting with influential community members and contributing to this newsletter's success. Email via our online form.

FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT: NCSPP's scholarship fund makes analytic classes available at reduced fees for students in need. Contribute today.

Old couches, new books, hot jobs, cool internships? Post classified ads on NCSPP's online bulletin board at no charge. We will also feature your listing in IMPULSE for a modest fee. Please see our submission guidelines for details.

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The Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (NCSPP) is committed to the study of psychoanalytic psychology and the encouragement of its interest in the professional and general communities. We are a multi-disciplinary, non-profit membership organization open to mental health professionals and all others interested in the study of psychoanalytic psychology.

Our more than 650 members form a community that spans the greater Bay Area and Northern California. NCSPP is a local affiliate of Division 39 (psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association. Our vast array of lectures, intensive study groups, scientific meetings, courses, our journal fort da, and numerous special events and projects are all brought to you by scores of volunteers who work to support NCSPP's mission. Our educational programs include continuing education credit for psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical social workers. We welcome you into the psychoanalytic community in Northern California. Please join us.

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Beth Steinberg, Ph.D., NCSPP President
Cleopatra Victoria, M.A., MFT, Editor
Cate Corcoran, M.A., Features Editor
Brad Falconer, M.A., Managing Editor

Each month, IMPULSE reaches over 1,420 psychoanalytically oriented professionals and students in Northern California.

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IMPULSE is a monthly newsletter published by the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology for the purpose of connecting Northern California psychoanalytic practitioners, students, and scholars. IMPULSE aims to foster the development of psychoanalytic practice and thought in our region through collaboration and understanding.

For information on submitting event listings and other content to IMPULSE, please see our guidelines and policies page on the NCSPP web site.

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IMPULSE is published electronically once a month by the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology. Comments are welcome and should be sent via our online form.

You are receiving this monthly newsletter from the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (NCSPP) because of your interest in psychoanalysis. Any mental health professional or student interested in psychoanalytic thought may subscribe free to IMPULSE, regardless of organizational affiliation. To ensure that IMPULSE isn't misidentified as junk mail, we recommend adding impulse@ncspp.org to your email program's address book. If you haven't done so already, click to confirm your interest in subscribing. To unsubscribe, click the SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this message.

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