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.

On behalf of NCSPP and the staff of IMPULSE, I would like to convey congratulations to our Editor-in-Chief, Matthew Morrissey, on the birth of his daughter Emerson Louise. We hear from him that he is "really digging" being a new parent, and we wish him and his family well. Perhaps he'll choose to reflect on his new experiences as a parent in future editions of IMPULSE. In any event, we look forward to having Matthew back online in next month's issue.

Warm Regards,
Andrew Harlem
NCSPP President


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EXAMINING EGO: COMPARING MINDFULNESS AND PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORIES

The past few decades have seen the growing acceptance of mindfulness in psychology. As used in the West, “mindfulness” refers to a nonjudgmental, present-centered awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Though the melding of mindfulness and psychoanalysis has not yielded many structured clinical approaches, theorists such as Jack Kornfield, Mark Epstein, and Jeremy Safran have compared and contrasted these traditions. How can the psychoanalytic clinician use mindfulness? To misquote a popular saying, “WWFD?” (“What would Freud do?”).

Mindfulness and analytic schools of thought regard two important but related concepts, the self and the ego, in quite different ways. The self is commonly defined as a cognitive and/or affective representation of one’s individual identity. Kohut conceptualized the self as a construct created through early experience, one that is adaptable but with a static core. His view departed from Freud’s concept of the ego (“the I”); Freud originally equated the ego with a sense of self but later declared, “The ego is that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world ... The ego represents what may be called reason and common sense ...” (The Ego and the Id, 1923). Psychoanalytic therapy is wedded to the Western cultural belief that healthy development requires emergence of an autonomous, individuated self. Thus, clinician and client alike often equate health, happiness, and success with strengthening the self through separation from others, individual action, and independent achievement.

Mindfulness, on the other hand, is interested in cultivation of the “no-self,” the Buddhist tenet that the self is impermanent and insubstantial – and that this can be a good thing. Buddhist psychiatrist Mark Epstein has noted that many people have become estranged from themselves and their experience of the present moment and points out the importance of seeing the ego as a transient entity, “arising and passing away moment to moment [and having] no inherent reality.” In Epstein’s view, “the happiness that we seek depends on our ability to balance the ego’s need to do with our inherent capacity to be.” Whether or not we subscribe to a Buddhist philosophy, this is a concept we may want to keep in mind when working with clients who are struggling with issues of self and the emptiness of living without feeling connected or present. In the words of Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, “Life is one. We do not need to slice it into pieces and call this or that piece a self.”

Blair Davis, MA
IMPULSE Staff Writer


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Partners in Thought: Working with Unformulated Experience, Dissociation, and Enactment

NCSPP is proud to present its 23rd Annual Lecture, May 22, 2010, in San Francisco . Please join us for an invigorating day with Donnel Stern, Ph.D., and interlocutors Sam Gerson, Ph.D., and Susan Sands, Ph.D.

Curiosity is an active attitude of openness toward one’s own experience, a willingness – so thorough that it transcends conscious intentionally – to allow our many “feelings of tendency” to fulfill them in formulated experience. Any compromise of curiosity is some variety of dissociation. Curiosity and dissociation are reciprocals of one another, two ends of a continuum. The interpersonalization of dissociation can become an enactment – an unformulated experience. With our esteemed presenters, we will explore the significance of “witnessing” in the analytic process and the disruption to witnessing caused by dissociation and enactment.

5/22/10 9:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., 2300 California St, San Francisco.
Register at www.ncssp.org.


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HOME IS WHERE THE OTHER LIVES
SFCP Conference on French Psychoanalysis with Dominique Scarfone
June 11 and June 14, 2010

• The Uncanny: A conversation about Freud’s classic text with Judith Butler (Maxine Elliot Professor, UC Berkeley, Department of Rhetoric and Comparative Literature) and Dominique Scarfone. Time: Friday, June 11th; 5:45-7:30 PM, with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception beginning at 5:00 P.M. Place: SFCP, 4th Floor, 2340 Jackson Street. Fees: for this event are $45 (general public), $35 (members, full-time educators), $25 (student, interns and post-docs, SFCP community members, non-profit workers)


• In the Hollow of Transference: The Position of the Analyst between Activity and Passivity. The Emmanuel Windholz Memorial Lecture. Jed Sekoff, Ph.D. will moderate. Time: Monday, June 14th; 7:30pm. Place: SFCP. Free

Judith Butler is the author of numerous books and essays, including Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (Routledge, 1990), The Psychic Life of Power: Theories of Subjection (Stanford University Press, 1997), Antigone's Claim: Kinship Between Life and Death (Columbia University Press, 2000), and Giving an Account of Oneself (Fordham University Press, 2005).

Dominique Scarfone is a training and supervising analyst at the Montréal Psychoanalytic Institute and Society, a professor of psychology at the University of Montréal, and editor of “The Analyst at Work” section of the International Journal of Psychoanalysis. A popular teacher whose work renders complex ideas in a clinically relevant fashion, his work successfully integrates the thought of Jean Laplanche with a diverse range of other seminal theorists including DW Winnicott and Michel de M’Uzan. His numerous publications include: “A Matter of Time: Actual Time and the Production of the Past." Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 75:807-834; and “Wishing for the Impossible: An Essay in Comparative Psychoanalytic Practice." International Journal of Psycho-Analysis (2002), 83:575-577.

To register for the Friday program, please contact 415-563-5815 or finance@sf-cp.org or www.uncannysf.com. CE/CME credit pending.

Image created by Antonio Tamburro by courtesy of 6° Senso Art Gallery
www.sestosensoartgallery.com


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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.

SFCP Dialogues: Obstacles to Love
Sat, May 1 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Judy L. Kantrowitz, Ph.D. / $35-$45

What is the Meaning of the Act in Acting-out Behavior?
Sat, May 1 / 10 AM - 1 PM / Center for Healthy Development / Santa Clara
NCSPP / (408) 985-8115 / Jeanne Wolff Bernstein, Ph.D. / $70-$110

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

SFCP Student Sem: Psychoanalytic Views of the Mind
Thu, May 6 (begins) / 6:30 PM - 8 PM / Psychiatry Building 401 Quarry Road / Stanford
SFCP / 415-563-5815 / Michael Smith, Ph.D. / Free

SFCP: Theather on the Couch--Round and Round the Garden
Fri, May 7 / 8 PM / ACT, 401 Geary / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Guest panelist: Karim Dajani, Psy.D., MFT & Linda Lagemann, Ph.D.

Salon: Mother's Intuition: The Fact of Fantasy
Fri, May 7 / 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM / Private home / Los Gatos
NCSPP / (408) 243-3536 / Angela Sowa, Psy.D. / $25

On Addiction
Sat, May 8 / 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM / 2040 Gough Street / San Francisco
C. G. Jung Institute / (415) 771-8080 / Gail Grynbaum, R.N., Ph.D. / $100

SFCP Psychoanalysis/Film: Conversation by Francis Ford Coppola
Sat, May 8 / 2 PM - 5:30 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Diane M. Borden, Ph.D. / $25

SFCP: "Sometimes We Are Prejudiced Against Ourselves"
Mon, May 10 / 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Mary Brady, Ph.D. / free

SFCP Community Members North Bay Clinical Forum
Tue, May 11 / 7 PM - 9 PM / 4340 Redwood Highway / San Rafael
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Dawn M. Smith, Ph.D. and Mary Lamia, Ph.D. / free

SFCP Community Members East Bay Clinical Forum
Wed, May 12 / 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM / Herrick Hospital, Conf. Rm CC, 2001 Dwight Way / Berkeley
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Tara May, Ph.D. and David Socholitzky, Ph.D. / free

PINC: A Psychiatrist Becomes a Psychoanalyst
Sat, May 15 / 10 AM - 11:30 AM / CPMC Conf Ctr Level A, 2333 Buchanan St. / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 922-4050 / John Andrus, M.D. and Mark Swoiskin, M.D. / free / 1.5 CE credits

The Economic Crisis and the Impact on Treatment
Sat, May 15 / 12:30 PM - 4 PM / location TBA / San Francisco
NCSPP / (415) 457-9949 / R. Bartner, Ph.D., R. G.. Poggi, M.D., R. Peltz, Ph.D. / $50-$110

Bridge Crossings: A Sunday Poetry Salon
Sun, May 16 / 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM / 2040 Gough Street / San Francisco
C. G. Jung Institute / (415) 771-8080 / Susan Thackrey, Ph.D.; Lynn Franco, LCSW / $20

SFCP Community Members San Francisco Clinical Forum
Tue, May 18 / 7:15 PM - 9 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Susan Moore, MFT and Jim Dimon, M.D. / free

SFCP Community Members South Bay Clinical Forum
Tue, May 18 / 7:15 PM - 9 PM / Psychiatry Building 401 Quarry Road / Stanford
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Jon Bathori, Psy.D. and TBA / free

NCSPP Annual Lecture with Donnel Stern, Ph.D.
Sat, May 22 / 9 AM - 4:15 PM / JCC 2300 California St / San Francisco
NCSPP / (415) 948-8823 / D. Stern, Ph.D., S. Gerson, Ph.D., S. Sands, Ph.D. / $45-$160

SFCP Conversations on Adolescents: Food For Thought
Sat, May 22 / 10 AM - 12 PM / Flamingo Conf. Resort 2777 Fourth Street / Santa Rosa
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Jeanne C. Harasemovitch, LCSW./ free

Allergies and Skin Conditions: a Lacanian Reading
Sat, May 22 / 1 PM - 4 PM / CIIS, 1453 Mission, at 10th & 11th St / San Francisco
Lacanian School / (510) 835-6104 / Ayelet Hirshfeld, Ph.D. / $48-$60

SFCP Salon: Curious about Cases?
Thu, May 25 / 7:30 PM - 9 PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Steven Goldberg, M.D., Alice Jones, M.D. / free

SFCP Grand Rounds: The Origin of Aggression in Children
Wed, May 26 / 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM / Psychiatry Building 401 Quarry Road / Stanford
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Mali Mann, M.D. / free

SFCP Training Division: Open House Event
Wed, May 26 / 6:15 PM - 9:15 AM/PM / 2340 Jackson, 4th floor / San Francisco
SFCP / (415) 563-5815 / Laurie Goldsmith, Ph.D. and Peter Goldberg, Ph.D. / free

To submit an event, please see our submission guidelines.

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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.

OFFICE SUBLET: Spacious, convenient North Oakland Piedmont Ave. location. 2 blocks from Kaiser Oakland. Available Tuesday and Thursday. $150/month for 1 day; $250/month for 2 days. (510) 658-6060.

FULL TIME OFFICE: Spacious, attractive, wood paneled East Bay office with skylight, separate private workspace suitable for kitchen/desk. Shared waiting room. Convenient Piedmont Ave. location, 2 blocks from Kaiser Oakland. Renter may sublet. $800. Includes utilities, cleaning, supplies. (510) 658-6060.

YEAR LONG STUDY PROGRAM 2010-2011: Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of Couples. The Psychoanalytic Couple Psychotherapy Group is pleased to offer an intensive, one-year study program in the Tavistock method of psychoanalytic psychotherapy with couples. The year will feature a rich array of theoretical classes, case conferences, and film events. Classes will be taught by clinicians from the Psychoanalytic Couple Psychotherapy Group (PCPG), with adjunct seminars taught by clinicians associated with Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships (TCCR) in London. The program will meet on Friday afternoons from September 10, 2010 to June 3, 2011 in the East Bay. The afternoons will include a theoretical class from 1:30 to 2:40, and a case conference from 2:50 to 4:00. There will also be some Saturday meetings in order to include video conference and in-person seminars with faculty associated with the TCCR in London. The cost of the program is $2,800. Applications are due by June 1. For further information please contact Julie Friend, LCSW, at jfriend919@aol.com or 510-527-9750.

ON DESIRE. A Women's Therapy Center (WTC) educational event. Saturday, May 8th, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Preservation Park , Oakland. Earn 6 CEUs. Visit http://www.womenstherapy.org/educational.htm for more information.

CHARMING OFFICE SUITE IN CENTRAL BERKELEY LANDMARK. 200 sqft, private entrance, waiting room, bathroom and garden. Possible use of large room for groups. $450 half time; $875 full time. 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.

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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. Join us.

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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.

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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 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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