Suddenly, it seems, December and the holidays are here again, bringing the complicated joys of family gatherings, clinical breaks, reflections on the past year, and hopes for the new year. This month, we at IMPULSE offer you our warmest holiday wishes, alongside a smorgasbord of analytic morsels.

NCSPP President Beth Steinberg bids farewell with an earnest and inspiring message to the community. PIECE OF MIND portrays a vibrant example of psychoanalytic work combined with body-oriented treatments and other modalities. In PSYCHOANALYSIS ON THE STREET the Institute on Aging offers an insightful look into the poignant complexities of treating abused elders. And APPOINTMENT BOOK shows that compelling analytic events deserve a place on your busy holiday season agenda.

As the new year begins, we hope to continue developing IMPULSE as a place wherein Northern California clinicians can come together to explore the analytic tradition through a distinctly modern medium. As always, we welcome your suggestions for our continued evolution.

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.

As I prepare to step down as president of NCSPP and make my final report in IMPULSE, I find myself reflecting on larger issues: the grave state of the world, political uncertainties and inequities, the push for managed care.

Full Spectrum is a San Francisco non-profit psychological health center offering integrative services including traditional and body-oriented psychotherapy, nutrition, art therapy, biodynamic cranial-sacra

Many practitioners are applying psychodynamic principles to the work they do, even when treatment doesn't conform to the traditional frame.

Classifieds: 

SOUTH BAY ANALYTIC CASE CONSULTATION/READING GROUP: We take an approach synthetic of different analytic orientations as well as neuroscience. Friday mornings. Led by Alan Kessler, Ph.D., Faculty SFPI. (408) 868-9405

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

PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP: For adults concerned about their alcohol use. Focus is on implementing individualized goals for change. Wed 6:00-7:30 PM in SF. Co-leaders: Jordana A. Templin, LCS 20773, (415) 255-9413, David A. Wasserman, PSY 11897, (415) 263-0980.

Appointment Book: 

Eating Disorder Conference: When Nothing Stays Inside
Sat, Dec 2 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Kathy Dewitt, Ph.D.; Jana Kahn, Ph.D.; Shela Fisk, Ph.D.;
Michael Loughran, Ph.D.; Robin Duetsch, Ph.D. / $80 - $90

Healing the Trauma of War: Iraq Veterans and Their Families
Sun, Dec 3 / 9:30 AM - 5 PM / CPMC, Buchanan @ Clay / (415) 387-0800 / San Francisco
Deep Streams Inst. / Jaine Darwin, Psy.D.; Ken Reich, Ph.D; Robert Grant, Ph.D. / $60 - $125

End of Life Care
Sun, Dec 3 / 9 AM - 1 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / (415) 563-5815 / San Francisco
SFPI&S / Stephen Fisk, M.D., Audrey Kavka, M.D., Charles Garfield, Ph.D. / $60

PINC Open House
Wed, Dec 6 / 7:30 - 9 PM / 2252 Fillmore St. / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 434-2002 / Linda Tucker, Ph.D. / free (RVSP required)

Dialogues in Contemporary Psychoanalysis: Perverse Countertransference
Sat, Dec 9 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Stephen Purcell, M.D. / $35 - $45

Opera on the Brain
Sun, Dec 10 / 5 - 6 PM / Cafe Grillades (501 Hayes St. at Octavia) / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Milton Schaefer, Ph.D., Linda Lagemann, Ph.D. / free

Scientific Meeting
Mon, Dec 11 / 7:30 - 9:30 PM / SFPI&S Library, 2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Jane Kite, Ph.D. / free

SFPI&S Friends Clinical Forum (Case Presentation)
Tue, Dec 19 / 7:30 - 9 PM / SFPI&S Library/2420 Sutter St. / San Francisco
Friends of SFPI&S / (415) 563-5815 / Audrey Martin, MFT; Mary Brady, Ph.D. / free (CE $15)