Elvin Semrad: His Principles for Diagnostic Interviews and Therapy

Elvin Semrad was one of our great teachers, known primarily for his work in group psychotherapy but also for his special methods of interviewing patients, in his weekly staff-meeting at Boston State Hospital & later at Mass. Mental Health Center. His interviews are the focus of Dr Buie's presentation, rather than his life, although some brief biographical notes by Sanford Gifford will introduce the workshop. There are audio and visual presentations, illustrating Dr. Semrad's methods of work with patients & students. David Mobley, a psychiatricsocial worker & a longterm admirer of Semrad, describes his methods of transcribing these of data from ancient reel-to-reel tapes into accessible form. Also included are comments, discussion & interchange with members of the audience. The longterm purpose of these workshops, organized by the Hanns Sachs Library of the BPSI, is to introduce the works of our former teachers to younger generations of analysts. We make use of the recollections of older colleagues who knew these teachers, & our own archival materials, when they exist.