We recently held our annual online webinar, designed specifically and exclusively for candidates and early career psychoanalysts and relationally trained psychotherapists. It was led by Sally Swartz (South Africa) on the topic, “Ruthless: Winnicott, Fanon and the Decolonial Explosion,” and moderated by John Skrovan (USA). With Sally, we explored Winnicott’s use of the term “ruthless,” and the central role it plays in the establishment of a boundary between an omnipotent internal world and external reality. The discussion then turned to an exploration of the implications of Winnicottian ruthlessness and Fanon’s call for a disruptive dismantling of colonial oppression for psychoanalysis. Finally we focused on the challenges brought to psychoanalysis by ideas generated through global decolonial movements, exploring also the ways in which the psychoanalytic establishment might begin to face loss in reaction to the restructuring of privilege and power. Candidates participated from all over the world, creating a vital and thoughtful dialogue that included the discussion of rich clinical experiences.
The Candidates Committee is now preparing the Candidate Panel, “Thinking, Participating & Speaking Outside the Box” for the 18th IARPP Conference in Los Angeles. Sam Guzzardi (USA) and Annita Chatzimichailidi (Greece) will present papers that will be discussed by William Coburn (USA). We look forward to meeting in person for this beautiful panel moderated by Sandra Toribio Caballero (Spain).
We also look forward to seeing all conference attendees – senior members and candidates alike – at the Candidates Reception on the conference’s first evening: it is a beautiful (and free) event, an opportunity to gather all together and cheer the opportunity to finally see each other in person. Candidates will have the opportunity to meet one another and spend time with more experienced psychoanalysts of the IARPP community.
Stay tuned.
Fabia Eleonora Banella (Italy), Co-Chair
Fabia E. Banella, Ph.D.
Rome, Italy
Email Fabia Banella
Erik Fagerberg, MA, LCSW
Malmö, Sweden
Email Erik Fagerberg
