Dear IARPP Members,

When it is time to write this letter to the Bulletin, it is also time to stop and reflect on our community as a whole, but also on the events of the past few months in different parts of the world. On this occasion, my thoughts go to the devastating fires in California at the beginning of the year, but also to the political events and international conflicts that continue to be so painful and difficult to comprehend.

On many occasions an enormous effort is required to reconnect with hope and joy. Moments of encounter offer the opportunity to do so, whether they take place with our loved ones, family, and/or with our colleagues.

Our webinars provide us with opportunities to do so, as was the case with one last month, on “The Elephant in the Zoom: Will Psychoanalysis Survive the Screen?” led by Leora Trub (USA) and moderated by John Skrovan (USA) and Matt Aibel (USA), or the most recent one, organized by the Candidates Committee, in which Robert Grossmark (USA) shared live with a group of candidates and early career psychoanalysts from all over the world, on “The Unobtrusive Relational Analyst and Psychoanalytic Companioning.”

And of course, we are approaching one of those special times of the year which, for many of us, means reconnecting with hope and joy, our annual conference. As you know, this year it will take place in Athens, Greece, June 19-22. It will mean a magnificent opportunity to think about “The Paradox of Freedom in Relational Psychoanalysis: Democracy and Tyranny In and Out of Therapy.” The conference co-chairs, Alkinoi Lala, Fotini Doumoura and Stavros Charalambides (all of Greece), along with the local and international organizing committee, are working very hard so that we can all enjoy an intellectually challenging and emotionally enriching program. As you know, registration is already open.

Looking very much forward to seeing you all in Athens!

With warm regards,

Sandra Toribio Caballero
IARPP President

Sandra Toribio Caballero, Ph.D.
Madrid, Spain
Email Sandra Toribio Caballero