Psychologist-Psychoanalyst

Psychologist– ψ Official Publication of Division 39 of the American Psychoanalyst Psychological Association Volume XXV, No. 1 Winter 2005 FROM THE PRESIDENT David Ramirez, PhD A HOLE IN THE FENCE owed by one of a different sort. In many ways, the conflict Do you know that kind of fence, made of wire, with the over who gets to call themselves psychoanalysts is a central diamond shaped weave mounted on galvanized poles? It piece of the story of the division. is common around ballparks and playgrounds; there are The 25th Anniversary of the Division of Psycho- extremely long stretches of it on the United States–Mexico analysis invites reflection as well as a consideration of border (though not along the United States–Canada border). what is to come. Division 39 was launched when that verb Where I am from it was called cyclone fencing, apparently referred mostly to rockets, as there were no personal com- in reference to its ability to weather some serious winds. puters or public Internet, when undergraduate and graduate This kind of fence can be cruel in a way that a solid schools of psychology counted psychoanalytic scientist- wall is not: this kind of fence not only creates an insider/ practitioners among their ranks and psychoanalytic theo- outsider distinction, it also allows the outsiders to see what ries in their curricula. Also historic is the time when many they do not have. In the case of those wishing to live on the psychologists and social workers who were interested in other side, it forms the border of their longing, the edge of formal psychoanalytic training stood at a fence, looking at what they hope for lies on the other side. If the longing is the institutes of the American Psychoanalytic Association strong enough, the outsider looks for a hole in the fence. with an eye toward getting inside. Division 39 helped make Should one find or make a hole and get inside, a a hole in that fence with the now legendary GAPPP lawsuit. new challenge develops. The interloper is confronted with Other efforts, no less significant but somewhat less the need if not to disappear, at least to find a way to become recognized, furthered the opportunities for psychologists in a part of what’s inside. Inexorably, identity is challenged Division 39 to consolidate identities as psychoanalyst prac- and reshaped as a function of the changed circumstances. titioners and clinicians. Visionary leaders within Division 39 This metamorphosis is experienced by many who become worked within our APA to achieve specialty recognition for analysts, a change tantamount to becoming a member of psychoanalytic psychology, on a par with clinical psychol- new culture, the culture of psychoanalysis1. ogy, counseling psychology and school psychology. They This president’s message is written by one whose also succeeded in developing diplomate status, elevating our family came from one culture to another, Mexican to North discipline to the pinnacle of professional recognition. American and who found the hole in the fence that enabled As is perhaps inevitable in the development of an his intellectual cultural emigration to psychoanalysis. My identity shared by thousands of thoughtful, often impas- experience of this passage shadows me as I begin this new sioned, individuals, conflicts emerged regarding the core role as a psychologist/psychoanalyst. Increasingly, ethnic, elements defining a psychoanalyst. Ultimately, the consen- racial and sexual minorities are visible within our ranks. sus within Division 39 was to promote intellectual plural- These voices articulate perspectives that contribute to the ism, acknowledging the many disparate permutations of development of intellectual diversity within Division 39, practice and theory. Thus, in the span of 25 years, a distinct sometimes challenging the status quo in a way that broad- identity grounded in the theories and practices of clinical ens our collective sense of the role that sexuality, race and psychoanalysis has been fostered and consolidated. Within culture play in the way we think of our psychoanalytic the overall culture of psychoanalysis, preservation and pro- work. This diversification of psychoanalysis was foreshad- motion of its “subcultures” was achieved. 1 Thanks to Leanh Nguyen for her paper at the 2004 Miami Coincident and integral to these developments Spring Meeting: Recognizing the Other, Narrating the Self. was the formation within the Division of Section IV, Local 2 �� Psychologist-Psychoanalyst Winter 2005 2005 Winter Psychologist-Psychoanalyst �� Psychologist-Psychoanalyst 3 Chapters. Throughout the United States, and in Canada, psychologists estab- lished groups organized to provide a kind of intellectual home to those interested GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING MATERIAL in psychoanalysis. Some of these chapters founded separate training institutes; Submissions, including references, need to be in all offered venues for the presentation of educational and scientific programs APA style. Email your submission in an attached and papers. Word or WordPerfect file to the Editor. If you do The vitality of these chapters did not go unnoticed by other mental not have attached file capabilities, mail the disc health professionals interested in psychoanalysis who were now metaphorically to the Editor. Hard copies are not needed. Please outside the fence: they wanted in. Local chapters began to consider diversifying write one or two sentences about yourself for their identity to include non-psychologists. placement at the end of the article and indicate Most chapters went on to offer membership to other mental health pro- what address information you would like pub- fessionals; some made the hole in the fence even bigger, extending membership lished. Submissions should be no longer than to those without postgraduate degrees in mental health disciplines. Eventually, 2500 words. the holes in the local chapter fences brought the membership issue to the lead- All materials are subject to editing at the ership of the Division. After consideration, rejection, then reconsideration, the discretion of the Editor. Unless otherwise stated, Division’s fence opened and non-psychologists began to join Division 39. the views expressed by the authors are those of the As our organization turns the corner on 25 years, questions related to authors and do not reflect official policy of the Divi- who is in, and who is not, persist. New fences spring up. Undergraduate and sion of Psychoanalysis. Priority is given to articles graduate programs in psychology have relegated psychoanalytic theories to a that are original and have not been submitted for place outside the fence of core curricula. States, most notably New York, have publication elsewhere. promulgated regulations that could have a long-term effect on what it means to be a psychoanalyst. We who were once outside and are now inside the fence of psychoana- ADVERTISING lytic identity face a daunting challenge: to show the holes in the fence to those Psychologist-Psychoanalyst accepts advertising on the outside, most notably graduate students and early career professionals in from professional groups, educational and train- psychology and social work. It is harder for them to find their way to a psycho- ing programs, publishers, etc. Ad copy must be in analytic identity now. For students and graduates from non-mainstream cultural camera-ready form and correct size.

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