“I learned that psychoanalysis is a noble line of work that makes real and tangible differences in the lives of others and is unique in this way. I now have so much respect for this profession, and I otherwise would never have known about it,” wrote Wesleyan senior Alexandra Nesson, a neuroscience major planning to go to medical school. “Initially, I wasn't sure it had as much to offer as medicine, but it didn't take me long to realize that, for many patients, it is just as effective, if not more so, than other techniques in psychotherapy and medicine.”
Nesson and five other Wesleyan juniors and seniors, Nebiyu Daniel, Rachel Guetta, Praise Owoyemi, Julian Waddell and Jingxuan (Lucia) Wang, attended the APsaA 2017 National Meeting in New York. These six students are concentrating in fields as diverse as neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, Russian studies and art history. Wesleyan promotes interdisciplinary integration, with most students working toward multiple majors and/or certificates (minors) in other fields.
As parents of a current student at Wesleyan, my husband Eric Klein and I decided Wesleyan was a perfect college at which to create an “externship” to provide exposure to psychoanalysis for interested undergraduates. The Gordon Career Center at Wesleyan placed the notice in its weekly student bulletin with the description of the externship and the list of application materials.
Praise Owoyemi said, “One of the ways this psychoanalytic program surprised and became more meaningful to me was how interdisciplinary it was.” She was impressed with the diverse perspectives within the field, which she felt “allowed analysts to go further and deeper in their analyses, rather than merely focusing on the presentation alone.” Lucia Wang, an art history major, wrote about the challenge of the performance artist Orlan's body modifications and the discussion group's response with a psychoanalytic perspective that allowed for a transitional space between psychopathology and artistic transformation. Wang noted, “The power of psychoanalysis and analysts' efforts to understand patients from the inside out was really inspiring and touching.”
Six analysts acted as mentors to help the students identify their interests and organize their meeting schedule. Professor Emeritus Paul Schwaber (College of Letters), Wesleyan alumnus Joshua Ehrlich, Middletown-based Susan McNamara and I were associated in some form with Wesleyan. Philip Blumberg and Ethan Grumbach enthusiastically embraced the idea of introducing undergraduates to the world of psychoanalysis.
Every student reported the community of psychoanalysts was warm and receptive. The APsaA members were “eager to hear about me and answer my questions about their profession. Their kindness made me feel like my attendance was valued,” Nesson said.
Nebiyu Daniel was enthralled with the speakers who presented at the University Forum on Racism in America and valued his questions and comments and encouraged further discussion after the presentation. Again and again, the students recounted to their mentors how the psychoanalytic community, presenters and attendees, spontaneously welcomed them and generously included them in extra-conference discussions and even meals.
Rachel Guetta concluded, “I think it will take years, perhaps decades, to understand fully how this opportunity shaped me. I already know, however, based on the intensity of my excitement, curiosity and unwavering eagerness throughout the week, that this experience will have a lasting impact on my career in psychology.” She added, “This program should continue and expand. Our experience contributed a view of psychoanalysis and level of insight that any student, regardless of field of study, would relish and benefit from. Our undergraduate presence at the APsaA meeting exposed us to the rigor of psychoanalytic thinking that we would not have been taught otherwise. The growth of the program is a powerful and innovative way to introduce the younger generation of learners to the vast dialogue of psychoanalysis.”
Eric and I could not agree more and will be renewing the externship for six more Wesleyan students at the APsaA 2018 National Meeting in February in New York. We encourage other analysts to consider sponsoring undergraduates and would be pleased to share our vision and experience (email: ).