Approximately 380 registrants participated in the Western Regional Psychoanalytic Societies Meeting which took place on the weekend of March 30 through April 1, 1979 at the Century Plaza Hotel in West Los Angeles. It had been over six years since these Societies (Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Southern California, San Diego, and Mexico) had met last in San Diego. The theme of the meeting, hosted by the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and the Southern California Psychoanalytic Society, was “The Psychoanalyst's Life: Expectations, Vicissitudes, and Reflections.” Although the format of the meeting favored panels, papers were also presented.
The topics for the panels were: “Expectations of Psychoanalysis: Hopes, Realizations, and Disappointments;” “Supervision as a Maturational and Therapeutic Process;” “Development of the Capacity to Understand and Utilize the Countertransference;” “Challenges to Psychoanalysis Posed by the Changing Scene of Medical Practice;” “Vicissitudes of the Psychoanalyst's Career: Challenges, Hazards, and Failures;” “Psychoanalytic Training from the Perspective of the Clinical Associate,” (with Clinical Associates as panelists); “The Object Relationships of the Psychoanalyst: Family Life, Peer Relationships, and Community Involvements;” “The Dynamic Interaction Between the Analyst and His Society and Institute;” and “A Psychoanalyst's Reflections: Memories, Assessments, and Forewarnings.”
The papers, also focusing closely on the theme of the meeting, were as follows: “Prometheus Chained” by Luis Feder (Mexico), “Observations of the Life Styles and Thinking Styles of Women and Men Psychiatrists and Psychoanalysts” by Martha Kirkpatrick (Los Angeles) and Charlotte Robertson (Southern California), “Authenticity and Narcissism in the Adult Development of the Self” by Robert A. Nemiroff and Calvin A. Colarusso (San Diego), “I Didn't Know What I Was Getting Into,” by Scott L. Carder (a Clinical Associate of the Southern California Psychoanalytic Institute), “The Myth of The Silent Analyst” by Leon Wallace, “An Analyst's Mid-Life Separation/Individuation,” by Doryann M. Lebe (Southern California), and “The Psychoanalyst: Problems and Hazards of the Profession” by Lawrence J. Friedman (Los Angeles).
Dr. Alex Kaplan, President of the American Psychoanalytic Association made an address on the subject “Changing Psychoanalytic Theories and Paradigms: Their Effect on Clinical Practice, Education, and Research.” Mrs. Helen Fischer, Administrative Director of the American Psychoanalytic Association conducted a highly successful seminar for administrative assistants and executive secretaries of psychoanalytic organizations. At a luncheon banquet on the second day of the Meeting Dr. Robert Wallerstein (San Francisco) delivered a keynote address on the theme of the Meeting.
Leonard H. Gilman, President,
Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute
Marvin P. Osman, President,
Southern California Psychoanalytic Society