Psychoanalysis On and Off the Couch

Nancy McWilliams, a dream analyst and psychologist, shares her personal journey of how psychoanalysis transformed her life. Topics discussed include the transformative power of psychoanalysis, the significance of supervision in the field, navigating medical issues as a therapist, understanding the attitudes of the current generation, and the importance of integration in psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysts Peter Goldberg, Michael Levin, and Adam Blum explore the profound influence of music on human experience in psychoanalysis. They discuss how music shapes our identities, emotions, and therapeutic processes. Topics include the significance of rhythm, the emotional depth of blues music, and the transformative power of music in processing trauma and connecting to collective memories.

In this podcast, Abel Fainstein, a medical doctor from Buenos Aires, discusses discrimination, including benign and malignant othering. He explores the role of discrimination in shaping identity, drawing parallels to Nazi treatment of Jews. They also discuss the rise of anti-Semitism, the importance of addressing all forms of racism, and the future of psychoanalysis. The chapter explores the concept of negation in prejudice, discrimination, and racism, highlighting the significance of addressing these issues. They discuss expanding the reach of psychoanalysis and the challenges faced in Buenos Aires. Finally, they stress the importance of providing psychoanalytic help to address human suffering.

“The situation was that I went with my husband Danny, who is also a clinical psychologist, and we were  on the team that came and told people when family members were identified and that they had been murdered. There was one time when we went to two kids, telling them that their parents were murdered. We were with them in the room with an aunt and another family member. All of a sudden, I said, “Danny’s father and my father were in the Holocaust, and they also lost their parents. And you know they became happy people and good fathers for us.  And here we are with you now.”  It was like my telling a lullaby - I knew that they hear us and they don't hear us, but I believed that the unconscious can hear me. That's how my personal transgenerational story helped me to help them to believe that a life can become after this disaster.”  M.R.   “And the music in your saying whatever you said was part of what worked there, both the liveliness and something that has a real connection to experiences one can survive from. This is a very unusual kind of intervention for psychoanalysts, and also that it may not fit everyone. There is a match between how can one make use of oneself and go out of one’s skin and one’s routines, i.e. the way I always do whatever I do. Instead,to do something different that is echoing the needs of the person with whom you are in contact.” M.E-G.   Episode Description: We begin by tracing the recent history of those organizations that are dedicated to the premeditated butchery of civilians. Both Merav and Mira share with us their experiences when the sirens went off on Saturday morning October 7th. We follow them as they attend to those who physically survived the mutilation, murder and kidnapping of their family members. Merav, building from her personal family Holocaust history, created a series of guidelines with which to engage those who were overwhelmed. It became a sort of proactive psychoanalytic manual to give structure to and help regain the alpha function of those who are suffering while also recognizing the presence of past traumas in their lives. They share with us their personal experiences, the crucial importance of President Biden's speech and visit, and the vital assistance that all the Israeli psychoanalytic organizations are providing. Central to their personal and professional message is We have survived traumas in the past, and we will survive again this time.   Our Guests: Merav Roth, Ph.D. and Mira Erlich-Ginor, Ph.D., are both members of the Israeli Psychoanalytic Society.   Linked Episodes:  Episode 110: PCCA (Partners in Confronting Collective Atrocities) and Working with Ukrainian Current Atrocities with Mira Erlich-Ginor   Episode 96: Why Do We Read Books? Literature and Psychoanalysis with Merav Roth, Ph.D.   For Donations: First Line Med    listen/subscribe IPAOfftheCouch.org  

"The gift of the [traditional] healer that he shares with those of us who do psychoanalytic work is that we are given an idea of the human mind as being always in a process of mediating the real world and the drives of sex and aggression - which if not moderated can lead to terrible things. We're in there, and that's what our training helps us to do.”    Episode Description: We begin with Martha describing her social work background and how it informed her approach to working with overwhelmed children in New York. She recounts her efforts in El Salvador and her understanding that children who were violent were actually children who were over-exposed to violence. She also functioned as one who accompanied those clinicians who themselves were at risk of being overwhelmed by the violence in their work. We take up her engagement in Angola and their cultural model of the individual as "the self that exists for the purpose of social participation." We consider the case of a child soldier who was treated by traditional healers for multiple symptoms related to his involvement in atrocities. We note the similarity with Bion's Knowing and Love as it is lived between the individual, the healer and the community. We close with recognizing the importance of the 'moral third' and the centrality of reparation in both African and American cultures.   Our Guest: Martha Bragin, Ph.D., is jointly appointed Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and the Ph.D. Program in Social Welfare at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She joined the faculty after 30 years of experience supporting United Nations agencies, governments, nongovernmental and people’s organizations to address the effects of violence and disaster on children, youth, families, and the communities in which we live. Dr Bragin is a Fellow of the Research Training Program of the IPA and the editorial board of the International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies. She serves as a member of Inter-Agency Standing Committee (UN-IFRC-NGO) Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, a globally representative body that sets and monitors standards for psychosocial interventions in emergencies. Dr Bragin is recipient of the International Psychoanalytic Association’s Tyson Prize as well as the Hayman Prize for published work on traumatized children and adults in 2011 and 2021. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications and is in private practice in New York City.   Recommended Readings: Bragin, M. (2003). The effect of extreme violence on the capacity for symbol formation: Case studies from Afghanistan and New York. In J. Cancelmo, J. Hoffenberg, & H.    Myers (Eds.), Terror and the psychoanalytic space: International perspectives from Ground Zero (pp. 59–67). New York, NY: Pace University.   Bragin, M. (2004). The uses of aggression: Healing the wounds of war and violence in a community context. In B. Sklarew, S. Twemlow, & S. Wilkinson (Eds.), Analysts in the trenches: Streets, schools and war zones (pp. 169–194). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.   Bragin, M. (2005). Pedrito: The blood of the ancestors. Journal of Infant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 4(1), 1–20.   Bragin, M. (2007). Knowing terrible things: Engaging survivors of extreme violence in treatment. Clinical Social Work Journal, 35(4), 229 – 236.   Bragin, M. (2010). Can anyone here know who I am? Creating meaningful narratives among returning combat veterans, their families, and the communities in which we all live. Clinical Social Work Journal, 38(3), 316–326.   Bragin, M., & Bragin, G. (2010). Making meaning together: Helping survivors of violence and loss to learn at school. Journal of Infant Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, 9(2), 47-67.   Bragin, M. (2012). So that our dreams will not escape us: Learning to think together in time of war. Psychoanalytic Inquiry: A Topical Journal for Mental Health Professionals, 32 (2), 115–135.   Bragin, M. (2019) Pour a libation for us: Restoring the sense of a moral universe to children affected by violence. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy 18 (3), 201- 2011.

Jan Abrams, a psychologist who emphasizes being present and engaged with patients, discusses her understanding of Winnicott and how he broadened Freudian thinking. She explores the importance of listening without preconceived ideas and the link between psychoanalysis and objectivity. Other topics include the significance of in-person sessions in psychoanalysis, deep analysis, the role of the mother, and exploring the fear of woman and its impact on a child's mind.

Karen Dougherty, a filmmaker and psychoanalyst, discusses her journey from documentary filmmaking to psychoanalysis. She explores the intersections between these two fields and emphasizes the importance of reaching a wider audience. They delve into the concept of transference onto the camera lens, the role of documentary filmmakers as activists, and the use of YouTube to create accessible content. The podcast also touches on the evolution of cinema verité and the promotion of psychoanalysis through various platforms, including podcasts and social media.

Nathan Szajnberg, MD discusses the connection between mourning and creativity, influenced by his parents' losses in the Holocaust. He explores the role of religion in psychoanalysis, similarities between Maimonides and Freud, and the importance of hidden meanings in religious practices. The link between mourning and creative expression is also examined.

Exploring the biological basis of conscience versus socially constructed values, emphasizing core ethics of life, truth, love, and kindness. Distinguishing between super ego and conscience in therapy, discussing empathy and sympathy. Speaker's dynamic relationship with God and conscience, challenges in psychoanalysis on unconscious processes vs. social constructivism, contrasting superego and conscience roles in deterring empathy.

Stefano Bolognini, MD, a seasoned psychiatrist and former president of the Italian Psychoanalytic Society, shares insights on contemporary psychoanalysis. He discusses how modern patients exhibit reluctance towards dependence, showcasing trends of narcissism and pseudo-autonomy. Bolognini highlights the evolution in analysts' understanding of countertransference, emphasizing the importance of long training analyses. He also reflects on the shared human experience of seeking help, rooted in personal journeys and familial dynamics.