The Lacanian Clinic
This course is an introduction to Jacques Lacan’s work. Participants will be introduced to key concepts in Lacanian psychoanalysis in the clinics of the neuroses and the psychoses. We will read Freud, Lacan, Jacques-Alain Miller, and other writings by post-Lacanian authors and discuss the relevance and application of Lacan’s work to the contemporary clinic.
NCSPP is aware that historically psychoanalysis has either excluded or pathologized groups outside of the dominant population in terms of age, race, ethnicity, nationality, language, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, and size. As an organization, we are committed to bringing awareness to matters of anti-oppression, inequity, inequality, diversity, and inclusion as they pertain to our educational offerings, our theoretical orientation, our community, and the broader world we all inhabit.
Presenters Response:
At the end of Seminar XI: The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, Lacan identifies three elements, linked to the analyst’s desire: first, the analyst’s desire is not pure, in the sense that, it is directed toward a particular aim; second, the analyst’s desire is to obtain the “absolute difference” of the analysand, which inheres in the act of the isolation of the primary signifier; and, third, the position of the subject that emerges at the end of analysis is non-phallic, outside the limits of the law and is, as such, “alone” — that is, without a partner in the Other. Lacanian psychoanalysis is oriented toward the singularity of the subject, emphasizing the unique signifiers in the speech of the analysand, and takes the absolute difference of the analysand from the analyst as the aim of a treatment.
At the end of this course participants will be able to:
- Identify the clinic of the neuroses and the clinic of the psychoses.
- Distinguish between the clinics of hysteria and obsessional neurosis.
- Differentiate among the three forms of extraordinary psychoses.
- Explain the difference between repression and foreclosure as distinct psychical mechanisms.
- State and specify how perversion functions.
- Explain the notion of the paternal metaphor, identify its purpose, and distinguish whether it is present or absent.
- Classify clinical phenomenon in relation to the knotting of the three registers: symbolic, imaginary, and real.
- Identify and situate the clinic of schizophrenia in relation to the problematic of the body and the imaginary register.
- Identify and situate the clinic of paranoia in relation to the malicious Other.
- Identify and situate the clinic of melancholia in relation to the undialectizability of the position of waste object.
- Caroz, G. (2021). The Obsessional and the Ego. LC express.
- Laurent, E. (2015). Melancholia: The Pain of Existence and Moral Cowardice. Hurly Burly: The International Lacanian Journal of Psychoanalysis, 12.
- Miller, J.-A. (2020). Paranoia, Primary Relation to the Other. The Lacanian Review, 10.
- Vanderveken, Y. (2016). Towards a Generalization of the Clinic of Discreet Signs. The Lacanian Review, 1.
- Veras, M. (2021). A Body in Anamorphosis. The Lacanian Review, 11.
Sydney Tan is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. She teaches seminars on Lacan and Freud and is a member and faculty of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. Her film review, "The Films of Our Lives," was published in fort da, and several of her Latin translations can be found in Impulse. She maintains a private practice in San Francisco.
This intermediate course is open to all.
LCSW/MFTs: Course meets the requirements for _ hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPS, as required by the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences. NCSPP is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider Number 57020), to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCS, and/or LEPs. NCSPP maintains responsibility for this program /course and its content.
Psychologists: Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for these programs and their content.
Enrollees who cancel at least SEVEN DAYS prior to the event date will receive a refund minus a $35 administrative charge. No refunds will be allowed after this time. Transfer of registrations are not allowed.
For program related questions contact Ronna Haglili, rhaglili@ncspp.org.
For questions related to enrollment, locations, CE credit, special needs, course availability and other administrative issues contact Niki Clay by email or 415-496-9949.
Education Committee
The Education Committee is responsible for the development of a variety of courses and workshops given throughout the year in San Francisco and the East Bay.