Following the February 2021 National Meeting, Bill and Kerry have been holding local discussions over Zoom with APsaA centers, institutes, and societies to listen to their views on current issues: Covid; diversity; expanded membership; the TA function; advocacy; our listservs; and the future of APsaA. We describe current initiatives but mainly listen to what's most important to local groups. New technology enables us to meet with members on their home ground and include many who don't attend our meetings. We've made ourselves available to join whatever forum works for them, including Town Halls, meetings with faculty and boards, etc.
As of this writing, Bill, Kerry, and other APsaA Board members have met with 15 local groups: Atlanta, Boston, Contemporary Freudians in APsaA, Dallas, Denver, Florida, Houston, Kansas City, Oregon, PANY (Psychoanalytic Association of New York), St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, and Wisconsin. More visits are planned and will continue through the fall.
It has been an eye-opening and inspiring experience to learn firsthand about the dedication and creativity of our local groups, how widely we vary yet how much we have in common. We've also been struck by how little these groups know about each other. For most of our members, their primary affiliation is with their local group, and they don't closely follow national developments “inside the beltway” of APsaA. Although our new structures—the Department of Education (DPE) and the Board of Directors—are working effectively, they are still growing into their roles and uncertainty exists. The tensions at the national level are manifest in local groups. There is anxiety about APsaA becoming either too radical or not radical enough. The national organization has an important function to contain and provide a model for addressing and resolving these tensions.
We will share some observations from these discussions:
We can be proud of how APsaA and its local groups have met the challenges of the past year in adapting psychoanalytic education during Covid and providing resources to their members and the public. The resources provided by our Covid Advisory Team, the Town Halls, peer consultation groups, and DPE support for virtual learning have been invaluable.
Each local group is addressing racial inequality, and they appreciate the leadership of APsaA and the Holmes Commission.
Local members were enthusiastic about enhancing advocacy and branding efforts to support analytic practice, particularly for candidates and recent graduates. Extending legality and insurance coverage for telehealth is a priority.
Many groups have psychotherapy members with voting rights who are active participants, some in leadership roles. In many places, these members are vital to the success of the local institution. Psychotherapy training programs abound and are found to support, not dilute, the psychoanalytic mission. Several local groups are successfully integrating psychotherapists and academics in the basic didactic curriculum of psychoanalytic training.
Local governance structures vary greatly, from the traditional Society & Institute to the newer model of psychoanalytic centers. Some societies and institutes are well integrated, while others function quite separately.
There is enthusiasm for expanding membership but also concern about the potential loss of analytic identity and professional legitimacy.
There is general agreement that analyzing, supervising, and teaching candidates should be functions of psychoanalytic education rather than markers of status. Our local groups vary in their TA/SA appointment procedures, but all value local option. We find that this feedback correlates with the findings of the TA survey.
While the Members List is a valuable means of communication, many members complain about the contentious exchanges, and tune out or unsubscribe.
Some groups have existential issues that include difficulty filling leadership, faculty, and TA/SA roles.
The world is in a time of momentous change. As the pandemic passes, we will all be assessing its impact on our societies and on ourselves. APsaA's future is cast in a new light as we grapple with the challenges and welcome the opportunities of a changed world. The ways we have met the crises bode well for our ability to adapt and advance psychoanalytic thought and practice. We look forward to working together to build our future.
Bill Glover, Ph.D., is president of APsaA.
Kerry Sulkowicz, M.D., is president-elect.