Between the Clinic and the Polis: Exploring the Links Between Psychodynamic Clinical Work and its Contributions to Democratic Public Life
Date: Saturday, October 5: 10:00am-3pm
Credits: 4 CE
Speaker: Noëlle McAfee, Ph.D
Meeting is both on Zoom & in-person at:
Seay Biomedical Building, 8th floor, Room 212
2201 Inwood Road
Dallas, TX 75390
This workshop will have two main elements: (1) a didactic presentation and discussion of parallels between clinical political phenomena followed by (2) a group case reflection. The aim is to show how the very defense mechanisms that can derail an individual—such as splitting, projection, and denial— can also derail democratic politics. So too failures to work through trauma and loss or to tolerate uncertainty can also lead to dysfunctional politics. Hence this workshop will point to the far-reaching implications of clinical work for democratic systems. Psychodynamic work helps people not only in their personal and professional lives but also in political life.
Learning Objectives:
Analyze the ways individual identity is always also social and political, and implement therapeutic relevant clinical interventions.
Connect the defense mechanisms that show up in the clinic to pathological political phenomena, including how unconscious anxieties can devolve into political polarization and authoritarianism
Apply the ways that psychodynamic work can be a resource for creating more democratic politics by helping patients (and those in their social networks) learn to tolerate loss, ambiguity, and uncertainty.
Presenter Biography:
Noëlle McAfee, Ph.D. is professor and chair of philosophy, with a secondary appointment as professor of psychiatry, at Emory University. She is also on the faculty of the Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute and, until recently, directed Emory’s Psychoanalytic Studies Program. As a philosopher, she specializes in political theory, continental philosophy, feminist theory, and psychoanalysis. She is the author of five books and over 80 articles and book chapters, including the award-winning book, Fear of Breakdown: Politics and Psychoanalysis.
References:
“Our Paranoid Politics,” Feeling Democracy, edited by Sarah Tobias and Arlene Stein, Rutgers University Press, May 2024.
“Beyond ‘Populism’: The Psychodynamics of Antipolitical Popular Movements,” Populism (4) September 2021, pp. 172-198.
“Kristeva’s Latent Political Philosophy,” Library of Living Philosophers: Julia Kristeva, Summer 2020.
“Refugees and the Right To Politics,” Refugees Now, edited by Kelly Oliver, Lisa Madura, and Sabeen Ahmed, London: Rowman and Littlefield, 2019.
“Politics and the Fear of Breakdown,” in Transitional Subjects, edited by Amy Allen and Brian O’Connor, New York: Columbia University Press, August 2019.
Continuing Medical Education
ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and the Dallas Psychoanalytic Center. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Statement
The APsA CE Committee has reviewed the materials for accredited continuing education and has determined that this activity is not related to the product line of ineligible companies and therefore, the activity meets the exception outlined in Standard 3: ACCME's identification, mitigation and disclosure of relevant financial relationship. This activity does not have any known commercial support.
Licensed Professional Counselors
In accordance with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council rules, Dallas Psychoanalytic Center can provide continuing education to Licensed Professional Counselors. The rules on continuing education course requirements can be found here.
Social Workers
In accordance with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council rules, Dallas Psychoanalytic Center can provide continuing education to Social Workers. The rules on continuing education course requirements can be found here.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
In accordance with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council rules, Dallas Psychoanalytic Center can provide continuing education to Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. The rules on continuing education course requirements can be found here.
Psychologists
In accordance with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council rules, Dallas Psychoanalytic Center can provide continuing education to psychologists. Licensees are encouraged to read rule 463.35 for complete information on professional development hours and provider requirements. The rules on continuing education course requirements can be found here.