Dear Colleagues
I have just returned from the 2nd Chinese Psychoanalytic Congress in Shanghai. The theme of the Congress, (organized by Zeping Xiao, the director of the Shanghai MHC) was “Psychoanalysis in the Modernizing Society” About 500 people attended. At a big panel on the first night “IPA and China—Where is China on the Map of the IPA?” Dan Jacobs mentioned that in his opinion what was needed for psychotherapy training was weekly classes, which warmed the cockles of my heart. The papers at the conference were varied, representing a number of schools of psychoanalysis
During the conference many people introduced themselves to me and thanked me for what CAPA is doing. We are very very well known and liked. There was much hugging and kissing. I was bowled over.
Major subthemes of the conference —not always explicit–were
1. The Chinese conviction that diversity is a good thing,
2. The Chinese belief that ultimately they will develop their own kind of psychoanalysis,
3. The Chinese concern that some Westerners condescend to them
My paper went well. If you would like to read it ( “Psychoanalysis and Globalization”) please click
http://www.capachina.org/psychoanalysis and globalization.doc
I talked at length with various professors, students in the IPA psychoanalytic program as well as with our own students. Some of what they said:
1. Re: students wanting certificates: They suggested that CAPA find an American university to cooperate with CAPA and a major Chinese University. Such an affiliation could get Chinese government support. The Chinese university would send students to America for a year or so (which the American university would like). CAPA would provide the psychotherapy part of a master’s degree in psychology program. The students would receive their degree from the Chinese university. It would not be important in China which American university.
2. Could a CAPA analyst could come and live in Beijing or Shanghai for 3-12 months (or even several years)—all accommodations etc provided. The Chinese would get support for this endeavor, which might be of interest to a retired analyst or to a young analyst.
3. I discussed with several Americans the possibility that candidates might use a Chinese Skype case for a third case. Since graduation is the concern of institutes and not BOPS, this possibility would benefit the 20 or so Chinese mental health professionals on our waiting list for analysis and also American candidates who have long waits for an appropriate case. (There are now 40 people in China in analysis with American analysts)
4. A few CAPA students have begun private practice and others are about to begin. They will form a group to help and advise each other. In Beijing, several of them may rent an office together and will probably invite CAPA to have its Chinese office there.
5. One of our volunteers, Katie Colton, our intern, is fluent in Chinese. She taught English as a second language in Beijing. Often, otherwise excellent applicants for the training program have poor English. Usually they are advised about ways to improve their English and then are re-interviewed before they begin classes. Katie will organize a weekly English class for these students on Skype. (We are rapidly becoming an All purpose university)
6. Cesar Alfonso, when he returns from the China tour, will organize an online auction for us.
7. In Freud and the Far East Ed. Salman Akhtar, Aronson 2009, there is a chapter on China by Douglas Kirsner and Elise Snyder
Just some general notes—5 years ago people in China were talking about the trauma of the Great Leap Forward and the Japanese invasion. They said that it would be five years before they would talk openly about the horrors of the Cultural Revolution. Well 5 years have passed, books and papers are being written about the Cultural Revolution, and everyone speaks about it very openly.
elise