Cultural patterns in childhood socialization have an impact on the negotiation of normal narcissism, self-image, and autonomy. When individuals find their cultural ideals a poor fit, they are likely to fall into the category of difficult patients, i.e., patients who need life-long treatment as well as a supportive social network. This paper will examine adaptive ... Read more

In this clinical paper, I briefly describe the analysis of a Chinese woman who suffered repeated traumas from early childhood into adulthood. ZhoLi, as I will call her, suffered post-traumatic memory disorder in reaction to some of her traumatic experiences.  She also developed masochistic symptoms.  During our work together, it became clear that her responses ... Read more

This psychoanalytic discussion will explore unconscious fears of women that may form the basis of various forms of control and subjugation of women. It may be understood that cultural and religious practices, as well as myths, may express universal, unconscious anxieties and a particular culture's attempts at defense and compromise to contain anxiety through accepted ... Read more

Scientific Presentation Beginning in infancy, trust is an experience that spans relationships. Opposing trust and belief are betrayal and cynicism. In the current sociopolitical context that includes mistrust and pessimism, Dr. Sheldon Bach explores the role of trust in development as well as in the psychoanalytic situation. He will also historically examine how conflict between ... Read more

This presentation will focus on Time-limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP) (Strupp and Binder, 1985, Hannah Levenson, 1995, 2010). The TLDP model integrates relational, interpersonal, object-relations and attachment theory (emphasizing early internal working models of self-other experiences with primary care-takers) perspectives from within the larger psychodynamic framework, and provides a case formulation structure, which supports time sensitive ... Read more

Socrates maintains, in Plato’s Phaedrus, that eros is the highest form of divine madness. The central queries of my presentation are: is there a divine kind of madness? What is the meaning of eros construed as divine madness? Following, but diverging from, Plato’s Symposium, I propose that eros, understood as divine madness, is the capacity ... Read more

Sponsored by The Svenson Lectureship Fund for Psychoanalysis and the Arts in collaboration with Xavier University of Louisiana and The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) is considered to be one of the greatest literary artists of the 20th century. His genius as a playwright, however did not save him from tragic emotional ... Read more

Participants will be introduced to existing approaches to race in psychoanalysis. In order to address a dearth of psychoanalytic theorizing on multiracial identities and experiences of racial passing, Dr. Chavez will use an interdisciplinary lens to consider these topics while integrating case material and personal reflections and suggest new directions for conceptualizing work with patients ... Read more