Impulse is a community newsletter produced by the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (NCSPP) and distributed electronically at no cost to subscribers. We envision Impulse as an integrative source for local news, events, and thinking of interest to the psychoanalytically inclined. Our goal is to be your guide as you explore the Bay Area's rich array of analytic resources.

We invite you to become a member of NCSPP, if you are not already. And, we welcome you as a subscriber to Impulse. Join us as we highlight the exceptional diversity of psychoanalytic thought and practice in Northern California.

Impulse is ten years old. In honor of its anniversary, Impulse founder Cleopatra Victoria shares her thoughts with us.
PAPA WAS A ROLLING RIBOSOME

by Cleopatra Victoria, MA, MFT

South of Houston, we're hurtling towards the end of the continent, gas drops to $1.49/gallon, and we pass $39 motels. We're speeding towards Galveston, a 27-mile-wide island of brown sand flung on the Gulf of Mexico. A hundred scientists, astrobiologists, biochemists, and NASA's top stars are about to explore the origins of life.

by Karisa Barrow, PsyD

As I lean into the role of NCSPP president on the heels of our annual retreat, I am enthusiastic about the future of our organization. Our dedicated board and committee volunteers are off to a fabulous start offering a range of programs and events for psychoanalytically minded folks. If you have not seen this amazing spring line-up, I encourage you to do so.

4th ANNUAL UCL-CCM-SFCP JOINT CONFERENCE
Chaired by Abbot A. Bronstein, PhD

Saturday, April 30, 2016
9:30am - 5:00pm
SFCP, 444 Natoma Street, San Francisco

Speakers: Donald Campbell, Claire Cripwell, Chris Mawson

by Leora Benioff, PhD

2016-2017 PSYCHOANALYTIC COUPLES THERAPY TRAINING

San Francisco Bay Area Psychoanalytic Couples Therapy intensive study program, sponsored by PCPG, is extending the deadline for application for courses starting in fall of 2016. Develop and ground your practice and your couple therapy skills, join a group of dedicated and interesting colleagues, and become part of the Bay Area psychoanalytic couple therapy community--a friendly referral and learning resource. Course meets Friday afternoons from fall of 2016 to spring of 2017, and includes rich didactic and clinical case conferences, and video classes with both PCPG and international faculty from the Tavistock in London.

by Alexandra Guhde, PsyD

TO BE A PTERODACTYL

It was the little girl's passion--to be a pterodactyl for Halloween. It’s refreshing--still--to see a girl surrounded by endless Elsas and Belles make a choice that isn't "just for girls." The girl's mother, a friend of mine, agreed. She bought the girl a Cretaceous-green costume with oh-so-even ridges down the spine; a beak like a Venetian Carnival mask; and, of course, wings--those most vital appendages--cut just-so from cloth the color of a gingko leaf in autumn. But, despite the costume's store-bought perfection, the girl's mother preferred--and I agreed--the "practice pterodactyl" her daughter made herself: no more than paper wings strapped to arms with yarn and covered in all the available colors of glitter on earth. Leaving a coruscating trail, the girl flapped around her living room--exalted--soaring above eons.

by Ripple Patel, MA

A New Vision for Dreams of the Dying. A researcher in neurobiology explores the dreams of the terminally ill.

The Benefits of Awkwardness. A psychoanalyst explains why awkward encounters should be embraced--not avoided.

Just One More Question. A patient remembers the poignant last sessions of an analysis.

by Jason Brand, LCSW

NCSPP IS GOING DIGITAL: GET INVOLVED

NCSPP's newly formed Technology Special Projects Committee (TSPC) is looking for new committee members. TSPC will use digital technologies to expand the reach and accessibility of NCSPP to members and the wider community. Our initial project is delivering digital video of NCSPP courses and events on the web.

We are currently looking to fill two volunteer roles:

Classifieds: 
OAKLAND CONSULTATION GROUP. Mondays, 1:45 pm to 3:15 pm. Detailed case presentations and clinical/theoretical readings. Mature working group. Dr. Dawn Farber, rori4@comcast.net.
 
CLINICAL CONSULTATION GROUP FOR EATING DISORDERS. Enrich your clinical work with eating disorder cases while gaining collegial support and fresh perspectives. Biweekly Thursday mornings in Rockridge. For more information, contact Lynn Tracy at drlynntracy@gmail.com or (510) 496-2727.
 
DYNAMIC TRAINING IN INTENSE PHP SETTING: La Cheim's partial hospitalization program in Oakland is seeking pre-licensed MFTs/PsyDs/PhDs to conduct individual and group therapy with a challenging adult population. Qualifying supervision + hourly pay. Contact Dr. Mical Falk at (510) 596-8127 x1.
 
DISSERTATION RESEARCH REQUEST. You do not identify as religious or spiritual? You are a licensed clinical psychologist and have been licensed for at least five years? You identify as having a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic theoretical orientation? You work at least part time in a private practice? If these characteristics are true for you or someone you know, please consider participating in/sharing word of this dissertation research study. Please contact Lauren Byrne at lbyrne@wi.edu for more information.
 
A GROUP THERAPY TASTING with Two Group Experts. Live from the Group Therapy Training Program. Join us for a live demonstration group and discussion from the Psychotherapy Institute in Berkeley. Learn more about psychodynamic group theory, practice, and the unique experiences achieved via group therapy. This event is hosted by the Group Therapy Training Program at TPI; there will be faculty and graduates available to talk about the program. What: An in-vivo psychodynamic group demonstration facilitated by Rose Phelps, MFT, with didactic discussion to follow led by Duncan Bennett, PhD. When: Sunday, March 13, 2016, 2 pm - 4 pm. Where: Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94709. Cost: Free. Register: https://www.tpi-berkeley.org/group-therapy-training-program/gttp-spring-event-march-13. For additional information, visit https://www.tpi-berkeley.org/group-therapy-training-program or contact K. Sue Duncan, Executive Director, at (510) 548-4407.
 
AFFORDABLE CONSULTATION in contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Ideal for someone wanting to deepen their work. Focus on encountering and making meaning of unconscious process; working with enactments, transference, and countertransference; and appreciating the mutual influence of the patient/therapist dyad. I am a candidate at PINC with 20 years of clinical experience and supervision. Michael Korson, MFT, (415) 646-0997, www.michaelkorson.com.
 
OFFICE SUBLET: Lovely upper Fillmore Street location at 2491 Washington Street in a suite with three other analysts. Office is available Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays as well as Wednesday morning until noon. The office has a contemporary ambience with high ceilings, bay window, analytic couch, and closet with built-in desk. If interested, please call Barbara A. Baer, PhD, (415) 346-8868.
 
THERAPY GROUPS FOR THERAPISTS. Ongoing since 1984. For mental health professionals and trainees. Also available, groups for high-functioning members not in the mental health field. Art Raisman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist (PSY 7795), Asst. Clin. Prof., Psychiatry, UCSF, (415) 453-4271, artraisman@msn.com.
 

Old couches, new books, hot jobs, cool internships, office rentals? List them in Impulse's Classifieds for a modest fee. Please see our submission guidelines for details.