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The theme of this year's conference, Reconceptualizing the Clinical Exchange, refers to the impact of Heinz Kohut's work on the whole field of psychoanalysis. Clinical exchanges provide the centerpiece for each of the three panels. Discussions of this clinical material are derived from the perspectives of first, the self-selfobject matrix, second, intersubjectivity, and third, motivational systems and affect theory. Following the third panel, participants will have an opportunity to discuss the three formal presentations in small groups led by International Council members paired with local leaders in the field. A fourth panel, an innovation at this conference, considers the question, is integration of the three perspectives possible? Is it desirable?
In each of the three clinical panels, case material will be presented by a psychoanalyst whose practice is guided by one of three clinical perspectives that have emerged in Self Psychology. The presenters are self psychologists who are "independent." That is, they have not aligned themselves for or against any of the three perspectives. Through this organization of the panels, it is hoped that the focus will remain on contributions to the study of the clinical exchange rather than on critiques of one perspective from the point of view of another. Following the three panels on the clinical exchange, the audience is invited to participate in small group discussions. The discussion groups have been organized by James Fosshage. Members of the International Council were paired with psychoanalysts from the Washington area and the co-sponsoring organizations: The Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy, Georgetown University Medical Center, and The Washington Psychoanalytic Society. Susan Lazar, Joseph Lichtenberg, and Rosemary Segalla were responsible for the selection of discussants from these organizations.
The workshop and original paper sessions were organized by the Eastern Division of the International Council for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology. Alan Kindler and Frank Lachmann were in charge of organizing the workshops and paper sessions respectively.
More than 90 paper and workshop proposals were submitted. Regretfully, only 36 papers and workshops could be accommodated in the 12 meeting rooms available for each of the three sessions. Each paper was read by two members of the Eastern Division and judged on a three point scale. Papers that did not receive a clear acceptance were given to a third reader. Papers were chosen to cover the wide range of interests of the conference participants. Some excellent papers could not be accepted when the topic addressed had already been adequately covered. Unfortunately the resources of the organizing committee were not sufficient to provide critical feedback to those papers that could not be included in the program. Many of these papers were of a high quality and should be submitted for consideration to Progress in Self Psychology. The members of the Eastern Division who served as readers were the following: George Atwood, Beatrice Beebe, James ,Fosshage, Henry Friedman, Ruth Gruenthal, Sam Izenberg, Alan Kindler, Frank Lachmann, Susan Lazar, Andrew Morrison, Carol Munschauer, Gary Rodin, Rosemary Segalla, and Malcolm Slavin.
Of special interest are the three workshops placing Self Psychology into an historical context. In these workshops the relationship between Self Psychology and Jung, Ferenczi, Lowald and the Post Modern Perspective will be discussed by Mario Jacoby of the Jung-Institute, Zurich, Arnold Rachmann, Founder of the Sandor Ferenczi Institute, New York, and Judith Guss Teicholz of the Harvard Medical School. Malcolm Slavin of the Massachusetts Institute of Psychoanalysis is the discussant providing continuity for the three panels. Page 11 of the Program brochure contains a chart of the papers and workshops grouped by topics. This chart should aid participants in their selection of presentations to attend.
This is the first meeting organized under the rubric of the "international" council. At the last meeting of the council, James Fisch from Israel, Hans-Peter Hart man and Wolfgang Milch from Germany, and Russell Meares from Australia, became members of the International Council and were invited to participate in this program. In addition, paper presenters and discussants from "overseas" at this meeting include: Antonio Correale, Gianni Nebbiosi, Franco Paparo, Italy; Josy Fisch-Marki, Switzerland; Andrea Harms, Austria; Iris Hilke, Lotte Kohler, Germany; Amanda Kottler, South Africa; and Yossi Tamir, Israel.
At last year's conference, 40 participants came from Europe, Asia, and Australia. An even larger number is expected this year. To facilitate participation by foreign registrants we have requested all paper presenters to bring extra copies of their papers for use by those whose primary language is not English.
The Kohut Memorial Lecture continues the tradition of recognizing major contributors to Self Psychology, to reflect on its' past and offer a vision of its future. This year Estelle Shane and Morton Shane will present: The New Self Psychology: Kohut's Inspiration in the Context of Contemporary Transformation.
As in past years, an introductory course and an advanced course in Self Psychology will precede the Conference. In response to many requests, a course in Group Psychotherapy and a course in Brief Psychotherapy have been added to the Pre-Conference.
Welcome to Washington, D. C., a city famous for its politics and its stunning architecture. Laid out by the architect L'enfant, it resembles a French city with streets that radiate from circles. Unusual for a major city is that it has no tall buildings, since no building may be higher than the capital.
Enjoy the conference and come back next year. The 20th Annual Conference of the Psychology of the Self will be held in Chicago from November 13-16, 1997.
Compiled and edited by Annette Lachmann