The International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization (IPSO) announces its sixteenth pre-congress, to be held in Nice, France, on July 21, 22, and 25, 2001. The theme of the pre-congress is “Psychoanalytic Method and Training; Difficult Moments.”
The theme is an invitation to explore and understand difficult moments during psychoanalytic training, including experiences in classes, supervision, the training analysis, and supervised analyses. The IPSO encourages all candidates to attend the pre-congress, but we hope you will also submit abstracts of papers for consideration as part of the plenary session, or for consideration as part of the discussion groups or the consultation groups.
The pre-congress consists of special meetings that offer unique opportunities to develop as a psychoanalyst. Being a part of the program is an active way to get involved in our international scientific community. At the same time, attending the meetings is a way to develop lasting friendships with colleagues from all over the world.
The plenary session will include papers around forty minutes in length, followed by fifteen-minute discussions. Our aim is to organize a program that offers different theoretical and clinical approaches to psychoanalysis and that represents IPSO candidates from a cross-section of geographical areas. Papers should focus on candidates' experiences of “difficult moments” in any aspect of their psychoanalytic training experience. The plenary session will be simultaneously translated into the four IPA languages.
The concurrent sessions will include papers presented in smaller groups in order to promote more intimate discussions. Several of these groups will be going on concurrently, making it possible to offer a choice of languages, since simultaneous translation is not possible for the smaller gatherings. Each concurrent session will have a presenter, a moderator, and a discussant or supervisor from various nations. These sessions will be grouped in two categories as follows:
Papers for discussion groups. Presentations should be around twenty minutes in length, leaving ample time for the discussant and for general discussion. The presentation of theoretical and clinical work should focus on difficult moments in learning psychoanalytic methods and in their application. As many as three papers can be submitted together to be presented as a group.
Consultation groups. These offer an opportunity for candidates from around the world to present clinical material and to get feedback about their clinical work from another candidate or from a senior training analyst. Please submit a presentation (around twenty minutes in length) of clinical material that involves difficult moments. For example, you might focus on difficult moments for you, for your patient, for both of you, or in your supervision. Indicate on the submission form if you prefer a candidate consultant or a senior training analyst. If it is not possible to honor your preference, you will be notified and given options. Each meeting will be two hours long, leaving ample time for a group discussion.
We hope the focus on difficult moments in psychoanalytic training will inspire you to submit a one-page abstract (double spaced) by August 1, 2000. Submission forms and guidelines are available at our Web page (). By submitting an abstract and a paper, you will help make the sixteenth IPSO pre-congress a rich experience with many different points of view, representing the worldwide diversity of psychoanalytic education.
If you have any questions you may contact Era Loewenstein, North American Vice-President, by phone (415-931-2215) or by e-mail (). Please join us in France in July 2001 to partake of the international world of psychoanalysis and to explore this very “Nice” part of the world. Nous esperons vous recontrer en France.