Dear IARPP colleagues,
The first Bookshelf of the year features five intriguing books as well as a wide range of topics taken up by IARPP members in chapters, papers and presentations.
Mark J. Blechner continues his longstanding interest in dreams with a new book incorporating the latest neuroscientific findings on sleeping mentation. His exploration moves us beyond the mind/brain binary via his conceptualization of the dreaming “mindbrain.” Blechner continues mining the clinical significance of dreams as gateways to understanding mental processes, expanding our patients’ capacities, as well as effecting artistic creativity.
Cleonie White has co-edited a timely anthology that delineates an intersectional approach to relational work, aiming to help us navigate links between race, gender and sexuality so that we do not inadvertently reproduce experiences of privilege and marginalization with our patients. Focusing particularly on clinical work with immigrants, women of color, sex workers and LGBTQ individuals, the book features contributions from several analysts whose work will be familiar to IARPP members.
From Sheldon Itzkowitz and Elizabeth F. Howell comes a new volume, equally timely, on psychopathy. Given current societal issues ranging from increasingly violent cultural divides to climate change, the co-editors seek to bring attention to manifestations of human evil, in the lone individual, the corporate CEO and the national leader. A range of social scientists, psychologists and psychoanalysts discuss the psychology of psychopaths and the personal, societal and cultural destruction they wreak.
Lissa D’Amour’s new book utilizes relational theory as the foundation for a new comprehensive model for the educational process. Drawing on the work of Donnel Stern, Jessica Benjamin and Winnicott, D’Amour offers a framework that anchors an interpretive attitude in teaching and learning which checks the academic tendency to separate physical bodies, affective meanings and symbolic systems of thought. She argues that relationships occupy the central position not only in human development but in classroom life as well.
Shoshana Ringel announces a revised edition of the first social work text to focus specifically on the theoretical and clinical issues associated with trauma. The comprehensive anthology she has co-edited examines interventions derived from diverse theoretical frameworks, such as cognitive-behavioral theory, attachment theory, mindfulness theory and psychoanalysis.
The chapters, papers and presentations featured this month explore such varied topics as the damage caused by attempts to deny or change a person’s sexuality; erotic transference/countertransference; the ongoing difficulties of talking about incest; insight’s limitations as therapeutic action; the impacts of interpersonal innovations on subsequent developments in relational, self-psychological and neuropsychoanalytic work; and reflections on immigrants, refugees, exiles and the emotional costs of borders.
I encourage you to submit news of your recent or upcoming publications and presentations for the next IARPP Bookshelf issue, to be published in June 2020. The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 28, 2020.
Please include the following materials with your submission:
- Title of your recent or upcoming publication or presentation
- Brief description of its content (such as an abstract)
- Link to a publisher (if applicable) so that members might access or purchase a copy
- Book cover photo or artwork (if applicable)
- Digital photograph of yourself (jpeg format)
- Professional contact information as you would like it to appear publicly for our readers (email and mailing address)
- For books authors, please provide a brief bio of 50-75 words.
- For presenters, please include location and spell out any acronyms.
- Please note that the Bookshelf does not include IARPP conference presentations.
Submissions should be emailed to Matt.Aibel [@] gmail.com.
With thanks and best wishes,
Matt Aibel, LCSW
New York City
Email Matt Aibel
