Impulse is a community newsletter produced by the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (NCSPP) and distributed electronically at no cost to subscribers. We envision Impulse as an integrative source for local news, events, and thinking of interest to the psychoanalytically inclined. Our goal is to be your guide as you explore the Bay Area's rich array of analytic resources.

We invite you to become a member of NCSPP, if you are not already. And, we welcome you as a subscriber to Impulse. Join us as we highlight the exceptional diversity of psychoanalytic thought and practice in Northern California.

by Danni Biondini, LMFT

We could all use some good news right now. 

The best news so far in 2021 is that June Lin-Arlow is taking over as the new Editor-in-Chief of Impulse. Yes, this very newsletter!

June is an MFT Associate working with kiddos in community mental health and she’s been part of our community for a little while. She was a member of the Education Committee; has been writing about psychoanalysis and the socio-political since grad school (shoutout to CMH!); has mingled around the cheese platter at the NCSPP holiday party; tells good jokes & likes psychoanalysis memes. In short, June is cool. 

I will still be around NCSPP, continuing as a member of the Program Committee and probably creeping behind-the-scenes on the Facebook page. Thanks to everyone at NCSPP for putting up with me as Editor, particularly our Administrator and Impulse Production Manager Michele McGuinness and our Managing Editor, Nicholas Hack, who have been endlessly patient as they’ve realized that an Enneagram Type 7/double air sign Gemini with Aquarius Rising is not good with deadlines, organization, or structure.

by Todd Rising, Psy.D.

Happy New Year! I hope rest, rejuvenation, and time for reflection has been part of the shorter days and longer nights of this unusually dis/connected season for you. I’ve often noticed as I enter into a new year, the allure of its potential can be a generative draw on hope and optimism, inviting wishful dreams and plans for creative actions. 

While I think this offers the glimmer of vitality towards growth in the year to come, I’m aware of the continued need to reflect on the longstanding and emerging problems that were highlighted this past year: the many convolutions and interpenetrations of the social, cultural, political, and environmental. Important, as we move forward, is the need to keep speaking to what has happened with the accumulative traumas sustained among so many strata of our world and community.  I am glad that we do this together within our organization of thoughtful individuals, as well as with the continued involvement of active members and affiliated folks from our broader community, offering up your voices when so moved.

by Barbara Baer, Ph.D.

THINKING ABOUT ANALYTIC TRAINING?

The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California invites you to an Open House on Zoom!!!

Thursday, January 14th, 202, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Please join PINC faculty, administrators, graduates, and candidates to hear about our program, and have the opportunity to ask your questions about training as well as the Admissions process. 

by Molly Merson, MFT

A Skeptical Heroine, Unconvinced by Religion, Romance or Psychoanalysis. This book review of the reissued “Divorcing” by Susan Taubes offers an overview of the book and its characters, who simultaneously take some jabs at psychoanalysis while remaining fascinated with the theory and practice.

Showtime’s addictive ‘Couples Therapy’ returns to briefly discuss the mutual miseries of 2020. Psychoanalyst Orna Guralnik stars in the newest iteration of “Couples Therapy,” which features some of the same couples from season one, and some new additions— including a new consultant, Kirkland Vaughans.

A Tale Of Two Addicts: Freud, Halsted And Cocaine. Freud’s featured on Science Friday! Well, his cocaine usage is, anyway.

by Loong Kwok, Psy.D.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Annual Writing Award is June Lin-Arlow, AMFT. Her paper, For Those Who Remain: How Cultural Displacement From Rapid Gentrification Affects the Psyche, considers the experience of those whose neighborhoods change from a place where they belong to one in which they no longer feel welcome. June draws on her experience working with clients from San Francisco’s Mission District to develop her ideas about attachment to place, as well as people, and the loss and anger that results from gentrification. This paper takes up a novel area in psychoanalytic thinking, and, with June’s clinical focus, self-reflection, and theoretical grounding, is an exciting addition to our Award recipients.

We invite any grad students or recent graduates to apply for next year’s Writing Award to apply now. We will be accepting entries until October 31. 

https://ncspp.org/fortda/call-entries-annual-writing-award

Classifieds: 

RAMS CYF outpatient clinic is recruiting for a part-time Child Psychiatrist. A unique opportunity to be part of a dynamically-oriented community mental health organization. For inquiries, please contact the Program Director: annazozulinsky@ramsinc.org. https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=17744&clientkey=A32C65AA8C959FA50D577B70A733623E

CONSULT GROUP for children, teens, and young adults. Combined psychoanalytic/Jungian perspectives. Fridays 12 pm -1:15 pm via Zoom for now. Please contact either R. Tyminski or M. Brady (robert.tyminski@ucsf.edu or mbrady66@earthlink.net).

Old couches, new books, hot jobs, cool internships, office rentals? List them in Impulse's Classifieds for a modest fee. Please see our submission guidelines for details.   

Appointment Book: 

VS Robert Grossmark: The Untelling
Sat, Feb 6 / 10:00 am - 12:00 pm / Zoom / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 288-4050 / R. Grossmark, Ph.D. / free - $40

Promoting Depth and Analytic Process in Psychotherapy
Wed, Jan 6 (begins) / 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm / Online Only - Via Zoom
SFCP / (415) 632-2438 / B. Steinberg, Ph.D. / free

Coalition Clinical Social Work Year 2
Wed, Jan 6 (begins) / 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm / Online Only - Via Zoom
SFCP / (415) 632-2438 / J. Rao, LMFT et al. / $325 - $350

PINC Second Fridays: Breaking the Dishes of Expectation
Fri, Jan 8 / 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm / Zoom / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 288-4050 / V. Hillgrove / free - $40

The Interpersonal Construction of Memory
Fri, Jan 15 (begins) / 11:45 am - 1:15 pm / Zoom / San Francisco
PINC / (415) 288-4050 / M. Zellner, Ph.D., L.P. / $320 - $420

Seasoned Clinicians Program
Wed, Jan 20 (begins) / 11:30 am - 1:00 pm / Online Only - Via Zoom
SFCP / (415) 632-2438 / J. Harasemovitch, LCSW, et al. / $530

Child Colloquium Series
Sat, Jan 30 / 10:00 am - 12:00 pm / Online Only - Via Zoom
SFCP / (415) 632-2438 / S. Stadler, M.D. / free