President’s Message:  Dennis Debiak

The Times, They Are A-Changin’ How About Us? is the question posed to the Division of Psychoanalysis by the Steering Committee of last week’s 37th Annual Spring Meeting in NYC. My sense of the answer to this question is a resounding, “yes.” People had very different experiences at this year’s meeting, as is always the case, but a large and diverse group of people shared with me that the Division is changing is important ways. Clearly, we are talking more about identities and the ways these dimensions of who we are impact our clinical work, our worldview and our lives.

Fostering Children’s Resilience in the Face of Racial Hatred and Prejudice: A Psychoanalytic Developmental Perspective
One-Session Program (2 Contact Hours), Presenter: Marsha Levy-Warren, PhD, Discussant:Kirkland Vaughans, PhD Date:Tuesday, June 27, 2017, Time:8:00-10:00pm
Location: Mt. Sinai, Hatch Auditorium, Madison Ave @ 100th St, NYC

The topic of this presentation – the impact of growing up feeling hated – has become even more salient and painful in a political and social climate in which there are increased outlets for voices of bigotry and prejudice. What are we to tell children who are observably “of color?” How do we explain to them that there are people who will react to them on the basis of the most superficial of characteristics – e.g., skin tone, hair, body type or shape, manner of dress, and name. How do we do this in a manner that is attuned to their developmental level of understanding? How do we inculcate a sense of pride, security, and trust in children when there is so much in the world around them that conveys reasons to be frightened, wary, and self-doubting?