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

I would like to welcome Shlomit Gorin as Editor of our new Potential Space feature. Shlomit brings to her position a B.A. in Comparative Literature and an M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures. We have now assembled quite a staff. I am looking forward to the resultant synergy among such dedicated people and the new kind of dynamism it will bring to IMPULSE.

Warm Regards,
Matthew Morrissey, MFT
IMPULSE Editor


back to top

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

This feature’s title, Potential Space, is apt in highlighting my current thinking about the implications of Jonathan Shedler’s recent article, “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.” Shedler’s article exonerates psychodynamic psychotherapy from accusations that it lacks empirical support by reviewing and analyzing research findings that offer empirical evidence for its efficacy. Such findings redeem our beleaguered tradition as a viable player in the marketplace of legitimate forms of therapy – legitimate both in the minds of the public and in the pockets of third-party payers. Amidst this excitement, however, I am wondering if we have unwittingly entered into a Faustain bargain to restore the relevance of psychodynamic psychotherapy at the cost of compromising analytic thinking.

Shedler’s findings certainly mark a victory for us in the context of working within a healthcare system driven towards greater demands for treatment efficacy and accountability. However, Shedler’s call for more research employing experimental methodologies seems to herald a shift in discourse that puts analytic thinking in peril. The unrelenting march of such a reductionistic science “progresses” towards homogenizing the human experience by extracting abstract trends that become codified as normative and dismiss individual difference. The inevitable outcomes of this research enterprise are greater predictability, standardization, and ultimately automation. This shift in discourse reflects a capitulation to the bureaucratizing forces of the profession. Further, it threatens to mute subversive voices that highlight the complexity of the psyche, value the contextualized nature of the therapeutic dyad, and promulgate knowledge through in-depth case study.

The danger here is beyond mere rhetoric; it relates to a collapse in thinking that is bound to reverberate in constricting the therapeutic endeavor. It seems just a matter of time before researchers elucidate more expedient routes to develop maximal psychological capacities and formalize such protocols in manualized treatments. Additionally, the implicit denigration of case study further reinforces the use of “objective” methods in an effort to sanitize the therapeutic process. The inherent messiness of psychotherapy, and with it the invitation to use creativity and play, are denied. The potential space for exploring sameness and difference and ultimately coming to terms with one’s own unique psychology is truncated. What is at stake is the loss of subjectivity for both patient and therapist. The fear is that by adapting to market pressures, we become master technicians or, in the words of Max Weber, “specialists without spirit and sensualists without heart.”

Mark McKinley, MA
IMPULSE Staff Writer


back to top

SFCP’s Clinical Forums: Learn, Socialize and Network!

The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (SFCP) invites you to attend one of our Clinical Forums offered in four Bay Area locations. The forums are monthly case conferences open to students and clinicians at all levels of experience interested in working psychoanalytically.

Each month a psychotherapist presents a therapy case of particular interest or concern. A different analyst is invited each month to discuss how they listen to the case material, fostering a lively discussion with the audience. The clinician group that attends builds a networking base while welcoming new colleagues each month.

The forums are free and CME/CE, optional, offered at a charge of $15 (1.5 CEUs). Forums are now offered in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael and Palo Alto. Click here for a schedule of presentations at each location. We hope you’ll join us.


back to top

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.

SFCP Psychoanalytic Student Seminar: Narcissism
Thu, Apr 1 (begins) / 6:30 PM - 8 PM / Psychiatry Building 401 Quarry Road / Stanford
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Dana Wideman, Ph.D. / free

SFCP Student Sem: Analytic Psychotherapy with Gay Men
Tue, Apr 1 (begins) / 7:30 PM - 9 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Gary Grossman, Ph.D. / free

Why Kids Do the Thing That Drives Parents Crazy
Sat, Apr 3 / 9 AM - 4:15 PM / JCC 3200 California St. / San Francisco
SFPRG / (415) 561-6771 / Steven Foreman, M.D. / $15-$75

Aggression in Action: Treating Severe Disturbance in Adolescence
Sat, Apr 3 / 10 AM - 1 PM / Center for Healthy Development / Santa Clara
NCSPP / (408) 985-8115 / Paul Alexander, Ph.D. / $30-$70

SFCP Community Members Professional Development Salon
Thu, Apr 8 / 7:30 PM - 9 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / K. Kolmes, Psy.D., R. L. Friend, M.D., R. Spencer, MFT / $35

LUTECIUM: Community Seminar
Thu, Apr 8 (begins) / 6 PM - 8 PM / 870 Market Street / San Francisco
Lutecium Psychoanalytic Group / Rebecca Bauknight, Ph.D. / $400

LUTECIUM: Writing Group "Letters"
Fri, Apr 9 (begins) / 6 PM - 8 PM / 870 Market Street / San Francisco
Lutecium Psychoanalytic Group / Group Members / $80

LUTECIUM: Seminar - Freud/Lacan VI
Sat, Apr 10 (begins) / 11 AM - 1 PM / 870 Market Street / San Francisco
Lutecium / Drs. J. W. Bernstein, M. Ewert, M. Joycechild, J. Gasperoni / $400

SFCP Child Colloquium: Trauma in the Transference
Sat, Apr 10 / 10 AM - 12 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Charles Parks, Ph.D. / free

Scientific Meeting with Elise Snyder
Mon, Apr 12 / 7:30 PM - 9:30 AM/PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Elise Snyder, M.D. / free

SFCP Community Members North Bay Clinical Forum
Tue, Apr 13 / 7 PM - 9 PM / 4340 Redwood Highway / San Rafael
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Vittorio Comelli, Psy.D., Julie Ruskin, Ph.D. / free

Truly, Madly, Deeply: Making Connection in the Clinical Hour
Wed, Apr 14 (begins) / 7:30 PM - 9 PM / St. John's Church, 2727 College Avenue / Berkeley
NCSPP / mgueco@sbcglobal.net / Reyna Cowan, LCSW / $90-$195

SFCP Community Members East Bay Clinical Forum
Wed, Apr 14 / 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM / Herrick Hospital, Conf. Rm CC, 2001 Dwight Way / Berkeley
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Marcia van Dyke, Ph.D., Forrest Hamer, Ph.D. / free

Introduction to Control Mastery Theory
Sat, Apr 17 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM / East Bay, TBA
NCSPP / (415) 457-9949 / Joseph Cristofalo, MFT / $50-$110

Listening to Earth/Listening to Psyche
Sat, Apr 17 / 9:30 AM - 5 PM / 1187 Franklin Street / San Francisco
C. G. Jung Institute / (415) 771-8080 / Jerome Bernstein, Ph.D. / $125

SFCP & SVAPP: Glen Gabbard, M.D., Sexual Feelings in Therapy
Sat, Apr 17 / 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM / UCD Davis Cancer Center 4501 X Street / Sacramento
SFCP / (916) 492-9442 / Glen Gabbard, M.D. / $40-$150

Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis-Bay Area Open House
Sun, Apr 18 / 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM / 3022 Steiner Street / San Francisco
ICP / 415-453-2782 / Carol Mayhew, Ph.D. / free

SFCP Community Members San Francisco Clinical Forum
Tue, Apr 20 / 7:15 PM - 9 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Vittorio Comelli, Psy.D., Wendy Stern, D.M.H. / free

SFCP Community Members South Bay Clinical Forum
Wed, Apr 20 / 7:15 PM - 9 PM / Psychiatry Building 401 Quarry Road / Stanford
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Vinh Thai, M.D., Julie Gerhardt, Ph.D. / free

Homer's Iliad ... and Ours
Sat, Apr 24 / 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM / 2040 Gough Street / San Francisco
C. G. Jung Institute / (415) 771-8080 / Sam Naifeh, M.D. / $100

SFCP Conversations on Adolescents: The Adolescent Brain Part II
Sat, Apr 24 / 10 AM - 12 PM / Flamingo Conf. Resort 2777 Fourth Street / Santa Rosa
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Katherine Fraser, D.M.H. / free

SFCP Grand Rounds: Success and the Conflict over Pleasure
Wed, Apr 28 / 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM / Herrick Hospital, Conf. Rm CC, 2001 Dwight Way / Stanford
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Sharon Levin, LCSW / free

PINC: Time and Temporality: Considering a Post-Modern Oedipus
Fri, Apr 30 / 7 PM - 9 PM / David Brower Center, 2159 Allston Way / Berkeley, CA
PINC / (415) 922-4050 / Adrienne Harris, Ph.D., Francisco Gonzalez, M.D. / $10-$35

Jung Embodied
Sat, May 1 / 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM / Firehouse--Fort Mason Center / San Francisco
C. G. Jung Institute / (415) 771- 8080 / Tina Stromsted, Ph.D. / $125

The Dynamics of Business & Psychotherapy
Sat, May 1 / 8:15 AM - 5 PM / Samuel Merritt College Ed Cntr, 400 Hawthorne Ave / Oakland
The Psychotherapy Institute / (510) 548-2250 / Various Presenters and Topics / $79-$134

Website Development and Marketing
Tue, May 4 / 7:30 PM - 9 PM / SFCP, 2340 Jackson Street / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Joe Seidler, Jason Seidler / free-$35

To submit an event, please see our submission guidelines.

back to top

PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT for patients in psychotherapy. Victor Libbey is a physician assistant (PA-C) with over 10 years experience in psychopharmacology. Expert MD supervision and a convenient Castro area location, sliding scale available! Victor Libbey, PA-C. Victor@psychiatrybayarea.com or (415) 437-1339.

F/T THERAPY OFFICE AVAILABLE SOLANO AVENUE, NO. BERKELEY. Large, well-lit, quiet, 2nd floor office in psychotherapy suite with stable occupancy. Suitable for groups, couples, individuals. Private back deck accessed from office. Attractive shared waiting area with natural light and plants. Near bus line. Available immediately; month to month lease. Licensed therapists only; must have malpractice insurance policy. Nina Ham, LCSW, 510-526-7377.

UNIQUE OFFICE SUITE IN BERKELEY HISTORIC LANDMARK. Ground floor office 200sqft w/garden view, private entrance, bathroom. Possible use of large room for groups. $800/one person, $875 two sharing. 510-849-8511.

DREAM CONSULTATION SPECIALIST. Meredith Sabini, Ph.D. Bring the initial dream for diagnostic information, one from any stage of treatment, or your own about the work. 30 years' experience, general analytic orientation. Staff Training and CEU programs also available. Psychology License 7397; MCEP #SAB009 (510) 849-8511.


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.

back to top

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. Join us.

back to top

Andrew Harlem, Ph.D., NCSPP President
Matthew Morrissey, MFT, Editor-in-Chief
Bruce Weitzman, MFT, Managing Editor
Meg Earls, M.A., Features Editor
Terra Morais, M.A., Appointment Book Editor
Shlomit Gorin, M.A., Potential Space Feature Editor
Michele McGuinness, Production Manager
Jane Reingold, MFT, Blair Davis, M.A., Staff Writers
Mark McKinley, M.A., Elizabeth Bradshaw, M.Sc., Staff Writers

Cleopatra Victoria, M.A., MFT, Founder and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
Cate Corcoran, Psy.D., Brad Falconer, M.A., Editors Emeriti

Each month, IMPULSE reaches over 1,830 psychoanalytically interested professionals and students in Northern California.

back to top

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.

back to top

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.

back to top