IMPULSE
Connecting the Northern California Psychoanalytic Community


AUGUST 2007

Welcome
President's Remarks
Piece of Mind
Postcard from Berlin
Event Spotlight
Appointment Book
Classifieds

About NCSPP

Masthead

Submissions

Subscriptions




WELCOME TO IMPULSE, THE ELECTRONIC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY NCSPP

While August remains a restful month for the analytic community, the latest issue of IMPULSE looks ahead to a number of exciting events and opportunities. Adam Kremen discusses NCSPP's ongoing evolution as a community organization. Dvora Honigstein describes NCSPP and PINC's Intensive Study Group (ISG) programs, which will offer an in-depth yearlong look at clinical work to participants in the East Bay and San Francisco. Division 39 previews its plans for this year's APA convention in San Francisco. And, as always, APPOINTMENT BOOK offers the most complete selection of Northern California's analytic offerings.

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.

August is the traditional vacation period for psychoanalysis, reflecting its continental roots, as well as the lull before the academic year. For me, it offers a chance to take stock before the end phase of my year as president. Much of the fall will be devoted to this transition, to setting up for next year. It will also be a time to finish up what can be finished up and to come to terms with what can't be done.

Much has been accomplished this year. Of note, we have developed a new focus on the psychoanalytic therapies — those therapeutic modalities informed by a psychoanalytic mindset, including psychoanalysis proper, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, psychoanalytic couples therapy, psychoanalytic child therapy, psychoanalytic group and milieu therapy, and so on. Many of these therapeutic modalities are often underrepresented in the learning programs available in the Bay Area, although most of us practice these forms all the time. We hope to offer a more balanced curriculum.

Also, many psychoanalytic practitioners continue to lack an organizational or institutional base, especially if they do not intend to seek psychoanalytic training. We hope that we can provide that base. Finally, we have begun to take steps to promote active participation in our community. We have instituted several programs designed to implement these goals — such as a salon series, happy hours, clinical interest groups, and more programs focused on what happens in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I will take up what we plan to accomplish in the future in a later column.

Adam Kremen, Ph.D.
President, NCSPP

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PIECE OF MIND: DVORA HONIGSTEIN, PH.D., THE INTENSIVE STUDY GROUP

The San Francisco/East Bay Intensive Study Group (ISG) offers a stimulating educational opportunity to clinicians interested in learning about psychoanalysis as a means of deepening and increasing their skills and knowledge. The creation of a rich collaboration between NCSPP and PINC, the ISG is a year long course (September - May) focused on a particular psychoanalytic topic and offered in both San Francisco and Berkeley. Each course is divided into four eight-week sections taught by a different instructor. The class size, limited to 15 participants, allows ample opportunity for exchange, discussion, and for the formation of a learning community. In fact, many ISG participants return as part of their ongoing professional development and for the camaraderie that these groups offer.

The 2007/08 ISG is entitled, "Hidden Figures in a Thicket: Encountering the Unconscious in Clinical Practice". In response to requests from the NCSPP membership, this year's course will have a strong clinical focus. The course will explore the many manifestations of the unconscious that occur in the encounter between patient and therapist, whether through language, somatic experience, enactments, humor, the involuntary or the uncanny. Seasoned faculty will address the topic of the unconscious from a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and will offer useful and thought-provoking approaches to understanding its myriad forms and functions within the context of the clinical process.

For more information about the faculty, titles of each eight-week section and registration please visit www.ncspp.org/learning/isg.html.

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POSTCARD FROM BERLIN: CLEOPATRA VICTORIA, MFT

Remembering, Repeating and Working Through
International Psychoanalytical Association, 45th Congress, July 2007

In the 20s and 30s, Berlin was the hub of analysis, thanks to Karl Abraham's Berlin Psychoanalytical Association, but then came the Nazi takeover, the burning of Freud's writings, and the forced dispersion of Jewish analysts. This IPA meeting held in Berlin for the first time, is a historic occasion. And very intense! 2,800 attendees and 270 candidates from all over the world...Mexico, Lebanon, India, Holland, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Russia, Korea, Israel and more.

It's Hollywood on the Wall with all the major rock stars...Ferro, Butler, Solms, Green, Britton, Fonagy, Mitriani and La Planche, and a few of our local rock stars presenting, like Samuel Gerson who swept up the Hayman Award for best Holocaust paper, and Jean Wolff Bernstein. Lectures on everything from neuropsych to the repetition compulsion. Andre Green sniffs at neuropsych and the audience applauds. Smoke everywhere and you still can't get decaf in Europe. IPSO, the International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization, representing IPA institute candidates and its dinner dance party on the River Spree — sauerkraut anyone?

I attended a workshop based on work of The European Psychoanalytic Federation which has categorized six analytic interventions. When your patient says, 'I went to the carnival', and you echo back 'carnival', you are jiggling the unconscious, and it is a typically a French analyst's intervention. When you make a here-and-now transference intervention, you are behaving as a British analyst likely would.

There are two Berlin psychoanalytic societies and they embody the split between the East and the West. Berlin is full of trees and parks, but the Eastern European countenance is constrained...everyone is still remembering and hopefully, working through. The mood is dark. The shadow of the Wall still falls. John Steiner discussed a patient who worried that his analysis would cause an earthquake, and his hope that by the end of treatment, the earthquake might turn out to be a minor crack.

Cleopatra Victoria, MFT
Editor

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EVENT SPOTLIGHT: DIVISION 39 AT THE APA CONVENTION

The APA convention is coming to San Francisco's Moscone Center, August 17th - 20th, and Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) has put together an exciting program. The theme, Psychoanalysis in the 21st Century: New Languages-New Paradigms addresses challenges to psychoanalysis in contemporary society. There will be programs on Geropyschology and Neuroscience and others about the impact of combat on soldiers and families, and the ethics of interrogation. The program will have panels focused on health, from the crisis in healthcare coverage to reproductive technology and medical consultation. In addition, there will be a program demonstrating the use of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) on a clinical case. Over two dozen programs will be presented. You can download the entire program by going to the Division 39 website.

We hope to see you there.

Bart Magee, Ph.D., co-chair
Maureen Murphy, Ph.D., co-chair
Anca Ivan, Psy.D.
William A MacGillivray, Ph.D. ABPP
Caroline Whitty, Psy.D.

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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.

Happy Hour (hosted by the NCSPP Associate Member Committee)
Thu, Aug 2 / 6 - 8 PM / Jupiter, 2181 Shattuck Avenue / Berkeley
NCSPP / (510) 273-9229 / free

Friends of SFCP East Bay Clinical Forum (Case Presentation and Discussion)
Wed, Sep 5 / 7 - 9 PM / Herrick Hospital, Conf. Room CC, 2001 Dwight Way / Berkeley
Friends of SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Tara Z. May, Ph.D.; Alice Jones, M.D. / free (CE $15)

To submit an event, please see our submission guidelines.

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CLASSIFIEDS

PSYCHOANALYTIC CLINICAL CONSULTATION GROUPS: Two well-established ongoing clinical study groups in Oakland, Wednesdays 10.00-11.30 a.m. or Fridays 11.30-1 p.m. have openings September 2007. Psychoanalytic clinical theory and detailed case presentations. Primary orientations: Bionian, British Independent; some developmental affective neuro-psychoanalysis; other papers illuminating the particular case being presented. Dr. Dawn Farber, (415) 673-7744. C.E.U. s available. Dr. Dawn Farber Psy. D. MFT is a psychoanalyst in private practice in Oakland and in San Francisco; Personal and Supervising Analyst and Faculty at PINC; teaches clinically-focused study groups and consults widely in the community.

WEEKLY CONSULTATION GROUP: The Treatment of Adolescents and Young Adults. Led by Mary Brady, Ph.D. and Robert Tyminski, D.M.H. Focus on contemporary Kleinian/ Bionian literature pertaining to this challenging developmental period. We alternate between theory and case presentations. Mondays, 12:00 to 1:15, September 10 - June 9, 3159 Sacramento St., Fee: $45/mtg. Approved for CE credit through SFPI&S. Information call (415) 776-3174.

SFIPS UPCOMING PROGRAMS: Sept. 23: Dr. Aguayo. Paper on Kleinian perspectives on narcissism and Case Consultation. Sept. 26: Dr. Bronstein. 12 week Contemporary Kleinian Case Conference and Didactic Course. Oct. 24: Film "Young Dr. Freud," discussion by Dr. Lossy. Dec. 8: Dr. Caper. Paper on Bion and Case Consultation. See www.sfips.org/programs.php or contact frozy@concentric.net or (415) 679-0997.

OFFICE FOR RENT: SFPRG has a beautiful office for rent in the Presidio. Spacious, lovely corner with bay windows. Shared modern kitchen, waiting room, free parking. Available August with five year lease. 415-561-6771.

STUDY AND CASE CONSULTATION: With L. Eileen Keller. Bion's works on thinking are wonderfully useful in clinical work, though sometimes hard to grasp in isolation. In this class we will use early theoretical work to help us understand our own and our patients' defenses against psychic pain. Alternating clinical presentations with reading will help us integrate Bion's work into our clinical technique. Wednesdays, 12-1:15pm. September 14 through December 12, excluding November 22. Location: 5435 College AV #201, Oakland. Cost:$45 per session. Class limited to six. www.kellerphd.com

SUBLET NEEDED: For Thursdays. Also open to Thursdays and another day as well. Prefer Divisadero, Cow Hollow, and Sacramento area but generally open. Contact Joshua Simmons, M.A. (415) 738-7341.

SAN MATEO SUBLET: Lovely psychotherapy office available 2.5 weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Beautiful building with 5 therapist offices, kitchen, and shower. Parking, public transportation, and handicapped accessible. Call (650) 340-8229.

GOT CONSULTATION? Find a Bay Area consultation or study group through the bulletin board maintained by the Friends of SFCP and SFCP'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. Join us.

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MASTHEAD

Adam Kremen, Ph.D., NCSPP President
Cleopatra Victoria, M.A., MFT, Editor
Cate Corcoran, Psy.D., Features Editor
Meg Earls, M.A., Copy Editor
Brad Falconer, M.A., Managing Editor

Each month, IMPULSE reaches over 1,700 psychoanalytically interested 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.