September 1998

DALLAS SOCIETY FOR PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY

B U L L E T I N

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL ADDRESS

by

Robert Aberg, Ph.D.

It is an honor and pleasure for me to address the membership of DSPP as President. Now in its fifteenth year, DSPP has been an intellectual home for analytically oriented psychotherapists and academicians seeking opportunities to grapple with the ever-changing theoretical and clinical aspects of psychoanalytic psychology. Like any home, DSPP has weathered its share of societal and generational change; its members have struggled with the identity of the organization and their identities within it. Together, we continue to work to provide a forum, which preserves our hard won epistemological base and theoretical advances while challenging our assumptions and promoting a heterodox, vigorous debate in the spirit of analytic inquiry. Throughout its history, DSPP's talented membership has pursued intellectual excellence and professional growth. It is indeed an honor to be chosen to lead DSPP this year. Thank you.

This year we continue to develop the initiatives of our past president, Dr. Jim Harris. We owe him a debt of gratitude for the good fortune of beginning this year with a healthy budget, a revitalized organizational structure, and a growing spirit of inclusion and outreach. Jim’s program last year highlighted the applicability of psychoanalytic concepts to a wide variety of clinical situations and provided a compelling rationale for DSPP to continue reaching out to mental health professionals and academicians in various settings. It is gratifying to discover the utility of psychoanalytic concepts outside "classical" psychoanalytic treatment.

Inevitably, as these concepts are applied outside the "classical" frame, their import expands and changes. By looking at their relevance outside the social context where they were formulated, we have the opportunity to analyze unexplored aspects and question assumptions that were not previously apparent. Of course, such questioning and reflection is not new in psychoanalytic thought. However, the accelerating pace of change in contexts where mental health workers operate lends more urgency to the need to re-examine many of our assumptions.

This year’s program, Finding and Being Found: Self and Other Through the Life Span, will examine some of the issues presented in last year’s spring workshop, "One versus Two Person Psychology," co-sponsored by the Dallas Psychoanalytic Society and featuring Leonard Horwitz, Ph.D. and Owen Renik, M.D. We will explore some ways psychoanalytic concepts are increasingly influenced by intersubjective approaches. I am indebted to my good friend and colleague, Dr. Myrna Little, for chairing the Program Committee. Her unstinting generosity of spirit, intellect, and knowledge kept the committee afloat through stormy conceptual seas. I owe many thanks to members of the Program Committee for their hard work, patience, creativity, humor, and determination. Thank you Denise Humphrey, Ron Schenk, Rose Rothmeier, Sherry Lundberg, and Malcolm Bonnheim.

DSPP’s committees will be busier than ever this year. Sherry Lundberg, MS, LPC has generously agreed to chair the Membership Committee. This is a transitional period for the committee, which has an ambitious agenda including initiatives for outreach, web page listings, and a new directory. Many thanks to Sherry for taking on this task. The Arts Committee, chaired by Dr. Judith Samson, will be active again with its excellent, entertaining monthly programs of movies and other cultural events. Arts programs will be announced at our monthly meetings and in The Bulletin, so stay tuned! The Community Relations Committee, chaired by Dr. Bill Gordon, is building DSPP’s web site, complete with an updated DSPP online directory and links to other analytic organizations. And our Education Committee, chaired by Dr. John Herman, is back with an ambitious two-year program outlined in our membership brochure. John has done a terrific job of marshaling some of DSPP’s best teaching resources and enlisting the cooperation of UT Southwestern to produce a truly outstanding course. Dr. Cecelia Robertson has graciously accepted the chair of the Continuing Education Committee for one more year (count ‘em: ONE!). Special thanks to her for driving all the way from Ft. Worth to help us for yet another year. The same goes for Donna Tarver, LMSW, who will be our Treasurer, yet again! We welcome Dr. Deann Ware as Secretary and look forward to working with her. DSPP’s Bulletin remains in the capable hands of Dr. Patricia Wood who’s aplomb in the face of looming deadlines is a steadying influence for far flung (and, too often, far gone) correspondents. Last but not least, special thanks to Dr. Laurie Wagner for her continued dedication to DSPP. For those of you who may still be unaware, Laurie is now President Elect Designate of Division 39 of APA. Despite her duties at the Division level, Laurie continues to provide invaluable help and guidance to DSPP. Those of us who think we’re too busy to help out with DSPP—or some other volunteer organization—should consider Laurie as an example and think again. Thank you, Laurie, and congratulations!

I’d like to close with a word of warning for our members: we know your telephone number and we will be calling! A principal goal this year will be to increase the level of involvement and engagement with DSPP among all of our membership. Organizations like DSPP require a constant infusion of new ideas, new people, energy and creativity. I would like all of our members to consider how they might contribute to the ongoing vigor and life of DSPP and to challenge themselves to find a way to participate. I look forward to beginning this process at our first monthly meeting on September 16^th. And I hope to find you there as well.

CONGRATULATIONS

DENISE HUMPHREY, M.M.

WINNER OF THE FIRST ANNUAL

DSPP/FAIRHILL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Denise Humphrey, M.M. is the winner of our first annual scholarship award for her paper Adoption, Object Relations, and Attachment. Dr. Bill Gordon presented her with a $1,000 award at DSPP's Spring Workshop. Ms. Humphrey holds a bachelor's degree in music from S. M. U. and a master's degree in music from Notre Dame. Trained as a concert pianist, she later turned her attention to study in psychology. She is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the Fielding Institute.

Ms. Humphrey's paper explored issues related to attachment and object relations in adopted infants. She described adoption as a lifelong process influencing all stages of development. While a biological bond between mother and infant, which is not present for the adoptive mother and child, may facilitate initial attachment, more important influences appear to be psychological. Adoptive families must typically deal with losses associated with adoption, namely, the infant's loss of actual biological parents and the adoptive parents' loss to infertility of longed-for biological children. Fantasies associated with these losses can influence the quality of attachment and self and object representations throughout the life span. While the quality of parenting in adoptive families is the most crucial influence, these losses cannot be ignored as challenges to the adoptive family.

Ms. Humphrey concluded that these challenges are positively resolved when "the child adopts the adoptive family, and can simultaneously be a natural child of someone else. For some, this is a relatively uncomplicated task. For many, there is a vulnerability that is a part of the self representation forever."

Great work, Denise!

LETTER TO DSPP/FAIRHILL

FROM DENISE HUMPHREY, M.M.

I would like to thank DSPP and the Fairhill School for the inauguration of the student scholarship award. I am deeply honored to be the first recipient of this award, and grateful for the opportunity to be involved with this community of professionals. Having transitioned from a background in classical music, it is natural for me to draw analogies between that training and that of becoming a psychologist. Both fields require an enduring lifelong commitment to the study of theory, technique, interpretation, and practice. Both require an acceptance of the notion that we will never be able to know everything there is to know in the respective fields. Both require an eye toward excellence, and both require energy from the inside that must be continually renewed and refreshed.

DSPP has provided an enriching addition to my doctoral studies and a keener insight into psychoanalytic thinking. I will continue to strive for the model of excellence afforded by this organization. Thank you again.

REPORT FROM THE TASK FORCE

AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

by

Laurel Bass Wagner, Ph.D.

A year ago Dr. Jim Harris asked me to lead a task force to explore ways to improve DSPP. The Task Force members were Robert Aberg, Bill Gordon, John Herman, Sherry Lundberg, Barbara Mosley, Donna Tarver and Deann Ware. After meeting for seven sessions, we attended a retreat with the Executive Committee to discuss recommendations. The Executive Committee has finalized changes pertaining to organizational identity, membership, monthly mini-workshops, student participation, courses, and governance. Some have been implemented; others will be implemented this year.

IDENTITY: DSPP has adopted a new mission statement: "To explore and promote psychoanalytic theory and its applications as the basis for understanding human experience." It will be incorporated in all DSPP literature. Outreach to the community is an important function of DSPP. With the influence of managed care in mental health, we must inform the public about psychoanalytic thought and treatment. Our committees are pivotal in reaching out to the community. The Community Relations Committee is designing a brochure about DSPP and starting a web site. The Arts Committee is expanding its successful film forum. The Executive Committee is considering options such as sponsoring workshops with other organizations, listing members available to the media, joining other organizations to provide disaster services, and giving time to a reduced fee clinic.

MEMBERSHIP: The Membership Committee will be expanded and include liaisons to member groups (e.g. psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, LPCs, graduate students). Annual membership dues will be decreased; entry level professionals will receive a reduced fee. Phone contacts will be made to members who do not renew. The program and membership brochure will be expanded and mailed earlier. Reduced fees will be available for early registration. DSPP members are encouraged to participate in the "Three to Dinner" program, in which established members invite new or prospective members to dinner prior to monthly meetings. New members will be asked to participate in DSPP committees. Members will be encouraged to join Division 39.

MONTHLY MINI-WORKSHOPS: A new meeting location was found last year for a more collegial environment. A pre-meeting social was implemented. "Greeters" chosen by the Membership Committee will greet attendees who are not "regulars." Nametags will be available. Attendees will be encouraged to introduce themselves during the discussion. Presenters will be encouraged to provide time for discussion. An EC Member will call to invite new attendees back.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION: The annual DSPP/Fairhill Scholarship Award of $1000 will be presented to the author of the best student paper submitted. Student membership dues will be reduced and waived for working on a DSPP committee. Workshop dues will be waived for assisting at the workshop. DSPP will work to establish a liaison with each local graduate program. A mentoring program will be implemented between DSPP members and student members. Student members will have an elected representative on the Executive Committee. A copy of the DSPP readings will be sent to each graduate psychology department library and the psychiatry residents' library at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. A recommended reading list of psychoanalytically oriented papers/books will be compiled and distributed.

COURSES: DSPP will offer two one-year courses on psychoanalytic theory and technique, taught by a team of experienced clinicians who are DSPP members. The courses will be open to all members and student members. Students from the psychology program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center will receive a three-hour credit for participation in a one-year course.

GOVERNANCE: The leadership of DSPP is evolving, and changes are being implemented to facilitate this "changing of the guard." The Executive Committee will meet bimonthly to provide continuity and cohesiveness. The EC will hold an annual retreat to focus on the goals and future of the organization. An operations manual will be written, with job descriptions for officers and committee chairs. A Finance Committee, with the Treasurer as chair, will be established and will formulate an annual budget. The DSPP "year" begins August 1 and ends July 31. Elections will be moved up and held in the fall to allow the President-Elect -Designate and Program Chair to attend EC

meetings and familiarize themselves with DSPP governance prior to assuming office. The President-Elect will serve as the Division 39 Representative, unless he/she is not a psychologist. In that case, the

President will appoint a psychologist as Division 39 Representative. The Division 39 Representative will represent DSPP at the Division 39 Spring Meeting and the APA Convention. A budget of $500 is available to cover expenses for each meeting.

Two recommendations, adding a student to the Executive Committee and making the President-Elect the Division 39 Representative, require changes to the bylaws. Members will receive ballots to vote on these changes this fall.

I personally want to thank Dr. Harris for having the foresight to form a Task Force to take a critical and wide-ranging look at our organization.. I also want to commend the Task Force and the Executive Committee for their thoughtful and comprehensive decision-making regarding the issues facing DSPP.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DSPP ARTS COMMITTEE FILM FORUM

5:00 P.M., Sunday, September 27, 1998. Judith Samson's House, 5741 Glen Falls Lane, Dallas. 214-750-7692. View and discuss controversial Bandit Queen, study of notorious outlaw, Phoolan Devi, elected to India's parliament after release from prison. Drinks provided. Please bring snacks.

DALLAS PSYCHOANALYTIC SOCIETY

FOUNDER'S DAY LECTURE

Haggar Auditorium, Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, September 26, 1998. Howard Shevrin, Ph.D. will present: A Psychoanalytic and Cognitive Exploration of a Memory of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Dr. Shevrin will also present a paper, Conscious and Unconscious Processes: Psychodynamic, Cognitive, and Neurophysiological Convergences, at Grand Rounds, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, on Friday, September 25, 1998. Dr. Shevrin is well known for his research in empirical evidence for unconscious processes.

DALLAS SOCIETY FOR PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY

THE 1998-1999 PROGRAM

FINDING AND BEING FOUND:

SELF AND OTHER THROUGH THE LIFE SPAN

September 16, 1998 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.

Members of the Program Committee.

Holmes, Jeremy (1998). The changing aims of psychoanalytic psychotherapy: an integrative perspective. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 79:4-16.

October 14, 1998 Who’s Afraid of Wilfred Bion?

Ogden, T. (1997). Reverie and Metaphor: Some thoughts on how I work as a psychoanalyst. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 78:719-732.

November 14, 1998 Fall Workshop. Lost In Familiar Places.

Shapiro, E.R. (1998). The Boundaries are Shifting: Renegotiating the therapeutic frame. The Austin Riggs Center Review,11: 6-12.

Wilkinson, S.M. and Gabbard, G.O. (1995). On Romantic Space. Psychoanalytic Pschology, 12(2), 201-219.

March 10, 1999 Coming of Age and the Other.

Settlage, C.F. (1996). Transcending Old Age: Creativity, development and psychoanalysis in the life of a centenarian. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 77,549-564

April 21, 1999 Emergence of the Therapist.

May 8, 1999 Spring Workshop. Intergenerational Aspects of Trauma.

Distinguished guest speaker: Stephen Seligman, D.M.H.