by Steven Knoblauch (USA) and Alejandro Ávila Espada (Spain)
Co-chairs of the IARPP Colloquium Seris

We are pleased to announce the upcoming IARPP colloquium in which we will discuss Donnel Stern’s recent paper, “Relational Freedom and Therapeutic Action” (Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Vol. 61, 2013).  The colloquium will run from Monday, November 10, through Sunday, November 23, 2014.  Moderators will be Alejandro Ávila Espada and Steven Knoblauch.  Our international group of panelists includes Susi Federici-Nebbiosi (Italy), Jack Foehl (USA), Orna Guralnik (USA), Rina Lazar (Israel), Felipe Muller (Argentina), Tessa Phillips (Australia), Paul Renn (Great Britain), and Cleonie White (USA).

Donnel Stern is one of the most prolific contributors to the relational psychoanalytic canon. In his many books and articles Stern articulates a particular vision of therapeutic action, based on ideas of unformulated experience, novelty, courting surprise, and relational curiosity.  In the paper being considered in this colloquium, “Relational Freedom and Therapeutic Action,” Stern offers his most current and specific presentation of this vision.  In particular, he discusses what he means by freedom in the activity of the analyst, illustrating the relationships among constriction, relaxation, and relational freedom.

With an international panel taking the lead we will continue our comparative thinking, as we take up the similarities and differences, opportunities and constraints, of Stern’s vision.  We will compare his ideas to others emerging both from within and from outside the relational tradition.  We anticipate a continuing confluence of voices, some new and some familiar, carrying our explorations and considerations forward as we gather and listen to each other in the virtual electronic space of the IARPP colloquium.

CE Credits:
For psychologists: The International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy (IARPP) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. IARPP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program is valid for 3 CE Credits.

For social workers: This program is valid for 3 CE Credits (approval number pending).

For California BBS licensees: Course meets the qualifications for 3 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences under license number PCE 5321. This program is free of cost to the IARPP membership, and it is targeted to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychoanalysts, marriage and family therapists, academics, as well as other California BBS licensees.

If you have any questions about CE’s please contact Lucia Lezama at via email here

Email Steven Knoblauch
www.stevenknoblauchphd.com

Email Alejandro Avila Espada
www.psicoterapiarelacional.es