IMPULSE
Connecting the Northern California Psychoanalytic Community


MARCH 2007

Welcome
President's Remarks
Piece of Mind
Making Links
On the Street
Event Spotlight
Appointment Book
Classifieds

About NCSPP

Masthead

Submissions

Subscriptions




WELCOME TO IMPULSE, THE ELECTRONIC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY NCSPP

Psychoanalysis, it has been said, offers no easy resting place. Dynamics keep moving, the unexpected keeps coming, and the learning keeps getting deeper. Happily, the Bay Area's analytic community remains a reliable source of inspiration and support along the way. Our March calendar outlines a wealth of opportunities for clinical development, a sure testament to the enduring vitality of our professional networks.

In this month's issue, Adam Kremen weighs in on the provocative debate surrounding the APA's stance on interrogation -- in anticipation of PINC's upcoming event on torture in the age of terror. Richard Almond describes an exciting new place to study, the Palo Alto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program. Melissa Anderson continues her look at psychodynamic work outside a conventional frame. And Cate Corcoran begins a new series on entertaining and enriching psychoanalytic resources on the web.

We hope you enjoy this month's issue, and we hope you'll join NCSPP to assist us in furthering the community that belongs to us all.

PRESIDENT'S REMARKS: ADAM KREMEN, PH.D.

As many of you are aware, the American Psychological Association is currently embroiled in a debate about its stance regarding the participation of psychologists in the interrogations of "detainees" or "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo Bay and other locations. The APA's leadership has delayed or refused to include unequivocal language in its Code of Ethics barring the involvement of psychologists in any aspect of interrogation or torture. Meanwhile the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association have taken just such steps, further isolating the APA. For more background, I urge you to read last month's Washington Monthly article, Collective Unconscionable: How psychologists, the most liberal of professionals, abetted Bush's torture policy.

I'm well aware that many of you are not psychologists and so do not have to feel the embarrassment of your professional organization participating in such a shameful charade. Those of you who are APA members may want to consider writing in Steven J. Reisner, who is running as a single-issue candidate, on the nomination ballot for APA president. Further information on his candidacy, as well as a petition for a moratorium on psychologist involvement in U.S. detention centers for foreign detainees (for both APA members and nonmembers), is available here.

Closer to home, the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California presents a program this month entitled "Unfree Association: The Politics and Psychology of Torture in a Time of Terror." (See EVENT SPOTLIGHT for details.) I hope you will avail yourselves of these opportunities for involvement in this issue, which has such profound implications for the ethical underpinnings of our profession.

Adam Kremen, Ph.D.
President, NCSPP

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PIECE OF MIND: RICHARD ALMOND, M.D., PALO ALTO PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM

In response to the feeling that resources are limited for analytically oriented therapists south of San Francisco, a group of us have been working for the past year to develop a formal program along such lines. Now, for the first time there will be a multi-year training program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy for licensed mental health professionals in the Peninsula/South Bay region.

Applications are already coming in, and the first class of the Palo Alto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program (PAPPTP) will begin courses in September, 2007. The program will include a three-track course curriculum and individual psychotherapy case supervision. This program, under the auspices of the SFPI&S, is a collaboration of South Bay analysts from SFPI, PINC, and IPC, along with local psychoanalytically oriented therapists. In addition to its educational goals, PAPPTP seeks to create more sense of community among professionals who share an interest in psychoanalytic ideas.

The didactic program will be Friday mornings, at the Department of Psychiatry, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford. The specific courses and instructors can be viewed at the SFPI&S website. Teaching will be aimed at the experienced therapist, although basic topics will be covered. The curriculum's three tracks are: Theory, Clinical Technique, and Case Conferences. Theory will encompass both models of mind and developmental phases. The Clinical track will address how analytic therapists conceptualize the therapy situation, and then use psychoanalytic orientation to work with specific kinds of patients. Case Conferences will include faculty case presentations and student presentations, and both child and adult cases. Special programs will supplement the basic curriculum. Supervisors will be assigned from a pool of experienced clinicians for two intensive therapy cases.

More information and applications are available through the SFPI&S site, or from Cheryl Goodrich, Ph.D. (650) 321-05330 or Richard Almond, M.D. (650) 321-6637.

Richard Almond, M.D.
Program Chair
Palo Alto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program

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MAKING LINKS: PSYCHOANALYSIS ON THE WEB

In this new series, IMPULSE links you to online resources to satisfy your appetite for psychoanalytic enrichment.

A world of psychoanalytic talks, interviews, commentary, and other audio content is just a link away, waiting for you to turn up your computer's speakers and dive in. Through a proliferation of both podcasts (downloadable files to either listen to on your computer or put on an MP3 player, like an iPod) and streaming audio files (which you must listen to while connected to the Internet), a vivid connection to psychoanalytic ideas is becoming accessible in a new way.

This month, we offer an assortment of intriguing audio on the man Vladimir Nabokov called "the Viennese quack," but whom most of us more affectionately consider the father of our field: Freud. The International Neuro-Psychoanalysis Centre offers a downloadable file of the charismatic Mark Solms speaking on "Sigmund Freud Today" at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Hear Solms explain what he means when he provocatively asserts, "Psychoanalysis is not important."

The BBC's website boasts an awe-inspiring wealth of psychoanalytically related offerings. Of note is novelist Lisa Appignanesi's series, Freudian Slips, which revisits five of Freud's works with help from Adam Phillips and Susie Orbach, not to mention a comedian and the editor of a fetish magaine. The first three programs lightheartedly look at Three Essays on Sexuality: sexual abberation, infantile sexuality, and puberty. Next, it's hysteria and the case of Dora, and finally wit and humor as analyzed in "The Joke Book."

Finally, the Center for Jewish History has an impressive multimedia archive from its 2006 conference Freud's Jewish World. For a potent sample, listen to Harold Blum's talk, "Antisemitism in Freud's Case Histories."

Next month, we'll take a look at audio analytic explorations of religion, dreams, Jung and more. In the meantime, we encourage you to send in your suggestions for future MAKING LINKS features.

Cate Corcoran, M.A.
IMPULSE Features Editor

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PSYCHOANALYSIS ON THE STREET: MELISSA ANDERSON, M.A., INSTITUTE ON AGING

Many practitioners are applying psychodynamic principles to the work they do, even when treatment doesn't conform to the traditional frame. This month, Melissa Anderson, M.A., Elder Abuse Specialist at the Institute on Aging, continues exploring this topic.

Over the past months, we've written about elderly clients with abuse and the added complexity of working in non-traditional settings. Now we present a brief look at the situations accompanying our community-based clients* and consider how a psychoanalytic approach is helpful.

Mrs. A, a 73-year-old African American woman, presented anxiously. She'd gone to the police and reported being assaulted by her 29-year-old grandson, refused an order of protection, but agreed to meet with a social worker from Adult Protective Services and weekly psychotherapy. Concern for her grandson, his children, and his mental health and drug use (he has a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and psychotic disorder) were central. Mrs. A. cared for him on and off throughout his life; he was born to Mrs. A's daughter at age 16, a year after her release from Napa State Hospital, where she was treated for schizophrenia. Mrs. A. received calls from her daughter's neighbors expressing concern for her grandson, starting at age two, due to neglect.

Mrs. A lived alone in senior housing. Her asthma worsened and she developed pulmonary disease, resulting in constant use of oxygen. Her mobility became more limited, and her son moved in. In his mid-fifties, he has a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, history of substance abuse, although was not using, and was HIV+ at the start of Mrs. A's therapy. During the course of her treatment, he converted to AIDS, went on a crack binge and emptied Mrs. A's checking account. By using psychoanalytic and supportive methods, the therapy became a container for Mrs. A, and she expressed her feelings. She looked forward to it, and sharing events and responses. She eventually took out an order of protection against her grandson, but more importantly began to make time for herself, her own life, and discovering meaning.

Melissa C. Anderson, MA, Marriage and Family Therapist Intern,
Ph.D., Neurobiology
Elder Abuse Specialist
Institute on Aging

* a composite of several clients

Know of an unconventional application of psychoanalytic work? You're invited to write a PSYCHOANALYSIS ON THE STREET or just contribute an idea. Contact us.

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EVENT SPOTLIGHT: UNFREE ASSOCIATION: THE POLITICS AND PSYCHOLOGY OF TORTURE IN A TIME OF TERROR

The U.S. government's policies and practices in its "War on Terror" have created deep divisions across the country and around the world. None has been more inflammatory than the evidence of torture practices within the military and intelligence services. The APA has also been embroiled in ethical and political controversy over psychologists' consulting role in the military's treatment of detainees.

Our speakers will examine the history of American involvement in state torture, the history of the military psychology section of the APA, and the present conflict within the APA over its policy of allowing psychologists to participate in the design and implementation of military interrogation techniques.

Date: Saturday, March 17, 2007
Time: 9 - 4 PM
Location: UCSF Laurel Heights Conference Center, San Francisco
Participants: Neil Altman, Ph.D., Ghislaine Boulanger, Ph.D., Nancy Hollander, Ph.D., Elissa Marder, Ph.D. and Stephen Soldz, Ph.D.

For registration information, please call John McGlothlin at (415) 922-4050.

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

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APPOINTMENT BOOK

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.

Conversations on Culture: The Bionic Mind: Biotechnology & the Human Psyche
Mon, Mar 5 / 7 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
Friends of SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Dr. Gopal Balakrishnan, historian; Dr. Erik Gann, psychoanalyst; Dr. Joseph Schear, philospher / $20

Peninsula Student Outreach: Psychoanalytic Treatment of Adolescents
Wed, Mar 7 (begins) / 7:15 - 8:45 PM / Psychiatry Bldg., 401 Quarry Rd., Rm. 1206 / Stanford
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Michael Loughran, Ph.D. / free

Extension Division San Francisco Student Outreach: Thinking and Relating
Wed, Mar 7 (begins) / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Karim Dajani, Psy.D. / free

Seminar for Professionals: Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy
Sat, Mar 10 / 9 AM - 1 PM / Town Center Community Rm., 770 Tamalpais Dr. / Corte Madera
Community Inst. for Psychotherapy / (415) 459-5999 x101 / Shelley Nathans, Ph.D. / $80 - $90

SFPI&S Scientific Meeting with Steve Sonnenberg
Mon, Mar 12 / 7:30 - 9:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Steve Sonnenberg, M.D. / free

SFPI&S Public Lecture Series: Childhood Anxieties
Wed, Mar 14 / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Mary Jane Otte, Ph.D. / free

Mate or Stalemate: Psychoanalytic Concepts in Couple Treatment
Fri, Mar 16 / 7:30 PM / phone MJ Myatt for location / Peninsula/South Bay
PINC / (650) 364-8095 / Dennis Facchino, Ph.D. & Peter Klein, Ph.D. / $25

Unfree Association: The Politics and Psychology of Torture in a Time of Terror
Sat, Mar 17 / 9 AM - 3:45 PM / UCSF Laurel Heights/ 3333 California Street / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 922-4050 / Neil Altman, Ph.D.; Ghislaine Boulanger, Ph.D.; Steven Soldz, Ph.D.; Nancy Hollander, Ph.D.; Elissa Marder, Ph.D. / $40 - $150

Poetry and Psychoanalysis with Lyn Hejinian
Sun, Mar 18 / 4 - 5:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Lyn Hejinian / free

SFPI&S Child Colloquia: Working with Parents
Mon, Mar 19 / 7:30 - 9:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Jack Novick and Kerry Kelly Novick / free

Extension Division East Bay Student Outreach: Psychic Structure of Addiction
Tue, Mar 20 (begins) / 7:30 - 9 PM / Herrick Hospital, 2001 Dwight Way, CC Room / Berkeley
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Margo Chapin, M.F.T. / free

SFPI&S Friends Clinical Forum (case presentation & discussion)
Tue, Mar 20 / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
Friends of SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Cate Corcoran, M.A. (presenter); Gary Grossman, Ph.D. (discussant) / free (CE $15)

Case Conference: 3 Views -- Contemporary Kleinian, Freudian, and Relational
Thu, Mar 22 (begins) / 7:30 - 9 PM / TBA / Oakland and Berkeley
Institute for Psychoanalytic Studies / (415) 679-0997 / Abbot Bronstein, Ph.D.; Ailsa Steckel, Ph.D.; Sheldon Wolfe, M.D. / $200

SFPI&S CE Credits Programs: Law and Ethics, Psychodynamic Perspectives
Sat, Mar 24 / 9 AM - 4 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Michael Donner, Ph.D. / $90

2007 Spring Event in Sacramento: Memories and Their Revisions
Sat, Mar 24 / 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM / UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X Street / Sacramento
NCSPP / (415) 921-6760 / Ethel S. Person, M.D. / $45 - $130

PINC Open House
Mon, Mar 26 / 7:30 - 8:30 PM / 2252 Fillmore Street / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 922-4050 / Maureen Franey, Ph.D., MFT, Admissions Chair / free

SFPI&S Stanford Grand Rounds: Thinking About Couples
Wed, Mar 28 / 6:15 - 7:30 PM / Psychiatry Building, 401 Quarry Road, Room 2209 / Stanford
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Janice Mill, Ph.D.; Peter Klein, Ph.D. / free

SFPI&S theater on the couch: "After the War" by Philip Kan Gotanda
Fri, Mar 30 / 8 PM / A.C.T. Theater, 415 Geary Street / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Forrest Hamer, Ph.D.; Linda Lagemann, Ph.D. / $21 - $65

Working Psychoanalytically with Eating Disorders
Sat, Mar 31 / 10 AM - 12:30 PM / Center for Healthy Development, 100 N. Winchester / Santa Clara
NCSPP / (408) 247-9399 / Jana Kahn, Ph.D.; Ann Martini, LCSW

To submit an event, please see our submission guidelines.

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CLASSIFIEDS

GIRLS INC. SEEKS INTERNS: SF Bay Area. Full time post-doctoral internship with stipend. September 2007 - August 2008. More information and how to apply here.

HOWARD BACAL: Specificity Theory: Illuminating Optimal Responsiveness in Therapeutic Process, Sunday, April 22, 9-1, Laurel Heights Conference Center, SF. Presented by Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. Contact: Jane Jordan (415) 931-5730 bwootten@ucsc.edu

BEAUTIFUL PSYCHOTHERAPY OFFICE FOR SUBLET. Mondays in therapy suite on Union Street @ Gough. Large, decorated in natural tones w/ artful touches of color. $230/mo. Available 4/1/07. (510) 848-3372.

INTERNSHIP POSITIONS: California Pacific Medical Center has predoctoral and postdoctoral internship positions open for the next academic year. Applications are due in March. Please contact Sharon Tyson, Ph.D. for more information at tysons@sutterhealth.org.

ONGOING PSYCHOANALYTICALLY INFORMED CASE CONSULTATION AND READING GROUP. Meets on Wednesdays, 1 - 2:30 PM, in SF. Alan Kubler PhD (510) 526-4450. $40/meeting.

GOT CONSULTATION? Find a Bay Area consultation or study group through the clearinghouse maintained by the Friends and SFPI&S Extension Division.

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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ABOUT NCSPP

NCSPPThe 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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MASTHEAD

Adam Kremen, 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 1,500 psychoanalytically oriented professionals and students in Northern California.

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IMPULSE CONTROL: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

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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SUBSCRIPTION MANAGEMENT

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 contact 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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Copyright 2007, The Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology.