Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 8. Source pages: 15.
Submissions Due September 12 APA Division 39 To Meet in New Orleans for 2018
The Division of Psychoanalysis, Division 39 of the American Psychological Association, will hold its spring meeting April 18–22 in New Orleans at the Intercontinental Hotel. The theme is Generations: Ghosts & Guardians.
Submissions are open now and due by September 12, notes Louisiana clinical psychologist Dr. Stephen Anen, who is this year’s conference co- chair.
Dr. Anen is hoping to receive submissions from the Louisiana community for the conference.
“Our Steering Committee is hopeful and excited about creating a robust, engaging, and thought- provoking range of programming. Having local clinicians and practitioners be involved would be part of that, in my opinion,” he said.
“We have tried to create a meeting that recognizes its location, something not always pursued with Spring Meetings in the past. Our theme aims to examine the influence of generational dynamics on individual, family, and social life. Given the richness of culture, food, tradition, and music that have been passed down over the years in Louisiana and New Orleans, we hope to explore issues relevant to both clinicians as well as the community.”
The theme, Generations: Ghosts & Guardians, calls on the quote from William Faulkner, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” And the convention flyer showcases the Louisiana setting as meaningful avenue to history, human experience, and imagination.
“Moving through time, each generation passes forward values, traditions and conflicts. How do generational forces cast their shadow upon the future? From nursery to grave, ghosts and guardians are transmitted across generations,” note the conference planners in the flyer.
“New Orleans has always been an intersection defined by the heritages and struggles of its generations: tradition is alive, cemeteries are architectural wonderlands, and funerals are parades. Our host city invites discussion of the traumatic legacies of slavery and colonization embedded within its foundation as well as the more recent tragedies and regenerations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
“Possessed by capacities for imagination and play, the Big Easy is committed to multigenerational expressions of art, music, and revelry that provide resilience as well as encourage the opportunity for greater community and commonality. We invite you to journey to New Orleans during its tricentennial year and share your experiences of generations, ghosts, and guardians within psychoanalysis, the mind, and the world.”
The conference theme is also reflected in the artwork, “And The Jazz Band Played On,” by Richard Lewis, Art of New Orleans. See more of the work at https://www.facebook.com/Richard-Lewis- Art-of-New-Orleans-314532508672893/
Anen said that the conference planners are excited about the keynote speakers, Lynne Layton and Kirkland Vaughans, and the panels and panelists.
These presenters “… will investigate issues spanning development, political group dynamics, inter-generational transmission of trauma, fatherhood, the legacy of slavery at individual and societal levels, as well as how personal experience shapes theory and clinical work. Clearly we are hoping to offer programming that can appeal to many,” said Anen.
“Co-chairing a conference has been a novel and rewarding process,” Dr. Anen said, “much thanks to my diligent and generous Co-Chair, Sanjay Nath, and to the creativity of our Steering Committee, which includes several Louisiana psychologists,” he said.
“From crafting a theme, to selecting keynotes and speakers, to considering how to organize a schedule, there has been a learning curve in understanding all the moving parts of what will hopefully be a successful and engaging conference. I’m glad I accepted this opportunity and am looking forward to next April.”
How did Dr. Anen happen to be in the state?
“I am a New Orleans resident of more than 5 years, having moved to complete my internship at the LSU Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) clinical psychology program, which was an excellent training experience and helped me to learn about the city and its people,” he said.
“In addition to being in private practice, I also provide consultation as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty for LSUHSC and am on the Board of the New Orleans-Birmingham Psychoanalytic Center. When I am not busy with Co-Chairing and my other responsibilities (not as much as I'd like these days), I continue to enjoy trying to adjust to life in New Orleans with friends and family.”
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