October 1998

Myrna Little, Ph.D.

Myrna Little, Ph.D., President Elect of DSPP, will present the October program, Who's Afraid of Wilfred Bion?, the second in this year's series on Finding and Being Found: Self and Other Through the Life Span. Bion extended Freud's and Klein's theories through his own innovative thinking and is considered today to be one of Britain's and Europe's most influential thinkers in psychoanalysis. Together, we will address: 1) the context in which Bion evolved the model of the mind; 2) his most central ideas; and 3) his contribution to contemporary analytic work, particularly his concerns with technique. Dr. Little's presentation will be discussed by Stephen Scherffius, M.D.

Dr. Little is currently wearing many hats for DSPP. She is Chairman of the Program Committee, Division 39 Representative, and President Elect. A psychologist in private practice in Dallas, she earned her Ph.D. at The University of North Texas. Beginning her career as an operating room nurse, she later turned to a stronger interest in the structure of the mind.

Topic: Who's Afriad of Wilfred Bion?

FINDING THE PATIENT AND BEING FOUND

At DSPP's September meeting, a large audience relished the first program in the series: Finding and Being Found: Self and Other Through the Life Span. Each member of the Program Committee participated in the presentation: The Myth of the Generic Therapist: Finding the Patient and Being Found, a roundtable discussion of the influence and importance of the "Two Person" paradigm within psychoanalytic thought. The presenters offered their unique perspectives on this paradigm, perspectives which ranged from scholarly to whimsical.

Myrna Little, Ph.D. began the discussion by noting that the one person paradigm grew out of 19^th century science based on logical positivism. She described Freud as insisting upon the holy trinity of anonymity, neutrality, and abstinence in order to avoid the contamination of suggestion. On the other hand, the two-person paradigm has grown out of 20^th century science emphasizing relativity, participant observation, and uncertainty. Debate on the validity of these two positions has created an epistemological crisis in psychoanalytic circles.

Denise Humphrey, M.M. posed the question of whether or not a neutral analyst, "a silent, information processor posing as a person", is a possibility. She noted that a scientific authority, which attempts to norm the analytic encounter, is being questioned; the pendulum is swinging toward a relativistic stance in the two-person model. However, she argued that the model has not as yet offered a comprehensive paradigm. Perhaps, a combination of the one-person model and the two-person model, while apparently threatening to proponents of either position, is the best idea.

Malcolm Bonnheim, Ph.D., saying he has no problem with the general idea of intersubjectivity, noted that each of us is peering out from a subjective realm; psychotherapy is not generic but an interplay of the unique subjectivities of the therapist and the patient. However, he observed that emotional attunement and empathic inquiry have been features of psychoanalysis for a long time. In addition, conflicts, internal representations, etc. can be described relatively objectively. Wholesale throwing out of theories of development and technique is not wise. Finally, Dr. Bonnheim questioned the position of proponents of intersubjectivity that no true autonomy or aloneness can exist, saying that the highest form of intimacy depends on loving the other for his or her differences, aloneness, and uniqueness.

Describing the intersubjective world of the relationship between therapist and patient, Robert Aberg, Ph.D. observed that the benefit of interpretation depends not on its objectivity or accuracy but on its ability to enhance the co-created space between therapist and patient. It is not the accuracy of interpretation but the attributions of therapist and patient that are important. All behavior at all times is influenced by unconscious forces, and the therapist is in a superior position only because he or she knows that. Neutrality and abstinence are always conditional. The therapeutic space is co-created by conscious and unconscious forces of therapist and patient and full of moments of finding and being found.

In his discussion, Ronald Schenk, Ph.D. drew analogies between the analytic relationship and ideas drawn from myth, religion, and science. First, he compared the classical analytic dialogue to an early Oedipus myth. In the analytic dialogue, questions and answers focus on the past to learn about the present situation, a situation comparable to Oedipus's blinding self analysis and realization of what he had done. The intersubjective dialogue might be compared to a later Oedipus at myth. Oedipus, blind and led by his daughters comes to a new city, looking for a good place to die. The dialogue is not about the past but about what this place is. The search for meaning is not in the past but in the present moment. The question is "What is this place like?" Next, Dr. Schenk compared the analytic relationship to some of Buber's ideas. Buber argued that God presents himself in authentic relationships. In the relationship, something spiritual is going on; something larger than either person is at work in the relationship. Finally, Dr. Schenk compared the evolution in psychoanalytic paradigms to the evolution from earlier causal views to chaos theory. Chaos theory posits that after a certain point, natural phenomena do not follow causal rules. Instead random outcomes occur which follow a pattern but a pattern which cannot be predicted. What determines the present is not just what happened in the past; the present is drawing the event to it, looking for a pattern. Dr. Schenk likened this new aesthetic paradigm to the intersubjective paradigm in psychoanalysis.

Rose Rothmeier, Ph.D. contributed a fanciful tale of mythical characters to the evening's discussion. In her Myth of the Generic Therapist, Narcissus fathers a child with Psyche, the wife of Eros. The child's name is Telos, meaning aim, end, or fulfillment. She believes that she is the product of the soul (Psyche) and desire (Eros), but has other influences in her lineage (Narcissus). Telos looks for the point or purpose in events, assuming that events are directed at some goal. Many seek her counsel; she uses her ability to perceive and convey purpose to alleviate suffering. Thus, she represents the mythical picture of the therapist in Dr. Rothmeier's lively imagination.

Sherry Lundberg, M.S., L.P.C. concluded the evening with a discussion of the dynamic process, which occurred as the Program Committee worked to develop this year's series of presentations.

Describing that process as something like therapy, she recalled the complexity of the interactions and relationships that existed in those moments in time. Finally, she described the good therapist as informed, responsible, responsive, compassionate and not generic.

DIRECTORY ALERT

We go to press on October 15^th for the 1998-1999 biannual DSPP Directory. All current members will be listed, along with a brief description of areas of practice (limit 5-6 words). Directory information will be included on our Web Page for those who are interested. For more information, call Sherry Lundberg, M.S., L.P.C. at 214 340 2118.

ARTS COMMITTEE REPORT

The DSPP Arts Committee, chaired by Judith Samson, Ph.D., has been hard at work and is offering an exciting series of events in the upcoming months. In addition to Dr. Samson, the committee includes: Robert Aberg, Bill Barfoot, Elena Blum, Salomon Grimberg, John Herman, Sandy Pitts, and Alice Van Huss.

Sunday, October 18, 5:00 PM

WILD STRAWBERRIES

Bergman's 1957 classic

An elderly professor reviews disappointments of his life as he travels to receive an honorary degree

Alice Van Huss's House

14151 Montfort #335 Dallas, TX 75240

972-960-8409

Bring house number, needed to get in the gate.

Bring hors d'oeuvre, snack food. Drinks provided.

Sunday, October 25, 3:00-9:00 PM

VISUAL JAZZ!!!

Dallas photographer Joyce Sanders will display her photographs, many of jazz musicians. The Robert

Aberg Trio and other Dallas area masters of jazz improvisation will provide a jam session.

Cocktail Buffet

Robert and Sarah Aberg's Home

Sunday November 22, 4:00 PM

Cocktail Reception and Gallery Show

Wendy Faris

Pastel Chalk and Mexican Ribbon Spirit House Paintings.

Gallery talk, based on

"Life Lines: Ribbons On and Off the Page"

in Confluencia.

Cultural and historical tradition of spirit houses and the psychological, literary origins of her very personal and moving work.

Sunday, December 6, 5:00 PM

THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

Directed by Dan Ireland

Based on Novalyne Price's memoirs.

A poignant depiction of her complex relationship with pulp fiction writer, Robert E. Howard

Sandy Pitts' House

5017 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75214

214-826-0583

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Searching for the Causes of Breast Cancer

A film by Allie Light and Irving Saraf

Lakewood Theater, October 12, 7:30 PM

Oscar winning filmmakers in attendance

Video Association of Dallas: 214-999-8999

Documentary follows women breast cancer activists on personal mission to unearth the causes of breast cancer. Engaging detective story and analysis of science and politics of this epidemic.

The Society for Personality Assessment

presents

Dr. Robert Lovitt

Wednesday, October 7, 7:30 PM

Green Oaks Hospital Conference Room

7808 Clodus Fields Drive

Dallas, TX 75251

Integration of History and Rorschach Assessment Data in a Child Custody Case