APsA Response to Harper’s Magazine Article
Beyond the Social Turn: How APsA and Psychoanalysis Are Evolving Through Open Conversation
We want to share an important conversation happening in the media about our organization and psychoanalysis. Harper’s Magazine recently published “The Social Turn” by Maggie Doherty, examining the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) at what she identified as an “inflection point.” We disagreed with certain aspects of how the article framed our organization and psychoanalysis more broadly, and so the APsA Committee on Public Information (CPI) submitted a response. Thankfully, Harper’s Magazine published our letter along with l as two others demonstrating their commitment to balanced dialogue and high standards of journalism. We deeply value healthy discourse both within our organization and about our field, and provide many opportunities for discussion and debate at APsA during formal events and through various internal channels throughout the year.
Image from Harper’s Magazine March 2025: “The Social Turn” by Maggie Doherty
Why This Matters
The article highlights real tensions within our field as we continue to grapple with integrating social and cultural factors into psychoanalytic practice. These are not simple topics or easy conversations, but they are essential to have. We appreciate this opportunity to present many sides of the conversation.
Our Commitment to Open Communication
- We actively seek feedback from both members and the broader public.
- We have created multiple forums for discussing challenging sociopolitical topics
- We maintain transparent channels for ongoing dialogue about institutional change.
How We Are Evolving
- Creation of the groundbreaking Holmes Commission and in-depth research into the most impactful actions since its inception.
- Fostering healthy debate at flagship events between 2023 – 2025 through multiple sessions.
- Expanding our membership to include diverse voices from psychotherapy, research, and academia.
There is always room for change and improvement – that principle is central to psychoanalysis – and so we do not and will not back away from the challenge. We remain committed to working together to strengthen the organization and network at APsA and improve the field of psychoanalysis.
What are your thoughts on the Harper’s Magazine article and the published response letters?
Read More:
“The Social Turn” by Maggie Doherty (March 2025) – https://harpers.org/archive/2025/04/the-social-turn-psychoanalysis-maggie-doherty/
APsA Committee on Public Information Response (May 2025) – https://harpers.org/archive/2025/06/letters-june-2025/
