Silence is not merely an absence of words but can be experienced as an alive and active presence as well. These seminars are a meditation on the work that happens in the silence — the therapist’s silence, the patient’s silence, the multiple meanings and experiences of shared silence.

We will explore various types of analytic silence: generative, stubborn, the silence of shame, silence as resistance, regressive silence, as well as spiritual and aesthetic silence. We will look at the developmental stages of silence noting the differences between silence early in the treatment, silence in the middle, and silence at the end.

When we consider silence and language as means of connection, communication, and interaction, we expand our appreciation for the unknown, which positively impacts our analytic attitude. This seminar seeks to help us expand our capacity to sit in and value silence, thus facilitating analytic depth.