Western New England Psychoanalytic Society

Felecia Powell-Williams, Ed.D., LPC-S, RPT/S presents a case presentation with a focus on clinical material of a four-year analysis that has continued therapeutically from childhood into adulthood, and her early attachment disruptions in relationship with her mother and father. The presentation will illustrate the internal conflicts concerning a difficulty with aggression surrounding traumatic loss of […]

This 5 week course, taught by Gretchen Hermes, MD, PhD, offers an exploration of memoir writing as a therapeutic tool within prison settings. Through writing exercises, guided reflection, and psychoanalytic insights, participants will examine themes of transformation, conscience, trauma, creativity, and social change. Readings will include excerpts from "The House of the Dead" by Dostoevsky; […]

In their presentation, “On Trauma,” Drs. Betsy Brett and Sid Phillips will explore how Freud tried to understand where emotional and psychological problems come from. From early on, he asked whether people’s symptoms grow mainly out of painful life experiences (trauma) or out of inner conflicts and instinctual wishes (drives), and he described these questions […]

Speakers: Todd Essig, Phd and Oscar Hills, MD. Generative AI, especially chatbots, presents psychoanalysis with tremendous promise and significant peril. While some benefit tremendously from their AI relationships, others sink into delusion, and for most they threaten to flatten inner life, externalizing what has always been internal. Plus, so called “therapy-bots” are on the near […]