news, analysis, opinion for the psychoanalytic community|issue 29 AUTUMN 2019

Climate Emergency Climate Emergency – Review – Woman Diary – events – Getting Real Extinction Rebellion at War listing

5Noah’s Arkism,11 21 29 21st century style Sally Weintrobe

“as I looked out into the night sky across all see the reality more clearly. They struggle those infinite stars it made me realize how with alterations in their self-view and may unimportant they are” rage, grieve and find it hard to think in proportion about their own responsibility. Peter Cook, comedian They are tasked with ‘working through’, ost of us have been including working through depressive and living in a bubble of persecutory guilt. When in the climate disavowal about global bubble, personal responsibility and guilt heating. We were can be projected onto and spread out awareM it was happening, but we minimized over social groups all ‘in it together’, ‘it’ its impacts. What might people be feeling being a high carbon lifestyle. When the as they emerge from the climate bubble? bubble bursts, people are vulnerable There is no space here adequately to to experiencing the shock of what was explore this, so I will look at just two issues. comfortably projected being suddenly returned. First, we know people find it difficult to emerge from a psychic retreat from reality. For example, I was talking with a friend They are in danger of feeling flooded with who said people are shooting kangaroos anxiety, shock, shame and guilt as they in Australia now. Kangaroos are dying of

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thirst because of global heating and people love and grief. The climate emergency, offering omnipotent quick fixes as pseudo scruples or conflicts”. He called it “the are shooting them because they do not because it is being faced at such a late repairs. alien”. The alien is the disassociated know what else to do. We sat in stunned stage, now brings difficulties with working silence before we both acknowledged we through of a tall order. Collective psychic ‘The political ruthless part of a mindset that in my felt deep shame at being part of this. work is vitally needed if we are to emerge current work I call Exceptionalism. from and stay out of the retreat. world we live in is Exceptions regularly override their inner concern in order to preserve their felt ‘What might Emerging from the climate bubble at now being called entitlement to see themselves as ideal people be feeling this late stage is also likely to stir survival ‘the crazy’.’ and special, to have what they want anxieties of different – and conflicting – and omnipotently to arrange things as they emerge kinds. We ignore these anxieties at our peril. The political world we live in is now so they need feel no moral conflict or from the climate One realistic anxiety about not acting on being called ‘the crazy’. ‘The crazy’ needs unease. Apparently. A particular kind climate is that there will not be enough food, considerable investigating, but it does of entitlement ensures the ruthlessness. bubble?’ water, clean air and shelter. One realistic seem to involve a rapid rise in contempt for Here is an example: we know an oil- inconvenient realities, laws and limits and Secondly, because we did not act earlier, anxiety about acting on climate is we lose the based economy leads us directly to global increasing entitlement to use omnipotent damage is much greater now and the freedom to ignore boundaries and limits and heating and to ecocide. Well it’s a no thinking to bypass these in order to struggles we have with shame, guilt and act as we please. brainer – continue with business as usual. construct virtual realities. ‘The crazy’ is not anxiety are now more difficult to face Where is the profit in taking care? Taking People emerging from a collective psychic just ‘out there’ in politics. It easily gets into and to work through. Some damage is care conflicts with our entitlements as retreat often feel reenergised and more us, and to stay sane in today’s world we irreparable and knowing we have been Exceptions. alive. However, they are also vulnerable. need to keep reminding ourselves of this part of causing it may feel too hard to stay They need the support of a culture of serious fact. I argue that neoliberal ideology and with. I have in mind, for example, John care that values truth and provides a economics is suffused with Exceptionalism. Steiner’s paper on Sophocles’ Oedipus at non-persecutory atmosphere. They need I believe two factors are adding to ‘the This mindset, on gaining global power in 1 Colonus. Bereft of support, Oedipus put the grounding that an understanding of crazy’. The first is Exceptionalism. The the 1980s, outsourced factories to countries out his eyes and retreated to arrogance politics can provide. These help to gain a second is mounting anxieties about the where labour was cheapest. It outsourced and omnipotence. Also, Hyatt Williams’s sense of proportion when trying to work climate crisis, a crisis which in large its pollution. It was behind the financial point that facing the irreparable can lead a through issues of anxiety, shame and measure Exceptionalism has caused. crash in 2008. It takes no responsibility person to want to obliterate all knowledge guilt. They also need strong leaders to for consequences, and that makes it truly 2 that the destroyed object ever existed. I help them face inner and outer climate Exceptionalism frightening. If it sees profit on one side Christopher Hering wrote a paper on a began with the Peter Cook quote as the reality. By strong leaders I mean empathic of the scales and suffering, death and form of ruthlessness,3 one much studied danger is that our love of the earth could leaders able to withstand omnipotence and destruction on the other, it will find that in psychoanalysis, for instance by Eric be obliterated if we do not work through able to help people withstand their own profit outweighs suffering. It put in place Brenman who called it narrow minded what it means that the climate crisis is omnipotence. Currently there is virtually a body of corporate law to support this and cruel.4 Hering said,“(it) does not know human caused. Obliterated would be the no support of this kind. Instead we see the position. any concern or mercy; it is devoid of any part of the self and the group that feels rise of ‘strong-man’ leaders shamelessly

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Neoliberal Exceptions also put in place a we currently witness - ‘the crazy’ - involves pressure of survival anxieties, may culture of un-care that works to set our a “break with (reality) globally, and ‘The idea, based build the phantasy according to detailed inner exception free. This suits the needs construct(ion of) an alternative, delusional, on omnipotent instructions given by leaders offering of the neoliberal economy. The current “magical” reality”.7 This is the inevitably pseudo containment. For instance, dominant culture incessantly invites and drift of Exceptionalism. ‘The crazy’ is thinking, is I will Britain as an island Ark, with all wicked nudges us to collude with corrupt and also being manipulated and shaped to try be saved, and undesirable people kept out after Brexit corrupting arguments. This, I believe, is to ensure that an oil-based economy can through strict immigration laws. The US not nearly recognised enough. Here is continue. the rest will be as a castle Ark with a stout wall to keep out one small example. Teresa May responds sacrificed.’ all brown skinned bad people. Europe as an to public pressure by announcing the UK Noah’s Arkism as a Ark with wire fences to keep out refugees will decarbonise by the year 2050. Then, response to anxiety Here are some examples of current Noah’s who include climate refugees. (under reported) the government makes All this is to introduce Noah’s Arkism, a Arkism: rapidly rising form of ‘the crazy’. The idea, 4. Another kind of ‘Arkism’ protects against switching to solar more difficult with a 1. Food, water and clean air are now based on omnipotent thinking, is I will be unbearable feelings. For example, many new rule that VAT must now be applied to threatened, and temperatures are rising. 5 saved, and the rest will be sacrificed. climate scientists are currently suffering solar installations. Many people collude Being middle class, my economic position with what is largely an ‘as if’ repair, near unbearable feelings. I will save myself In the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, God will save me. I must soon install air achieved with a target, and they feel more from these feelings by constructing for sees mankind as wicked, meaning violent conditioning. comfortable continuing with their life myself an impregnable Ark to keep the and full of corrupt thinking, and Noah as styles as usual. 2. Being mega-wealthy, I can move to New unbearable feelings in them (the drowned) the one and the only good just man. God Zealand. In the longer term, humans will and away from me (the saved). I am very drowns all life in a great flood, saving only The Exceptionalist mindset seeded the have the technology to move to Mars. Not expert at deflecting my feelings about Noah, his family and representatives of climate bubble, the largest and most all humans obviously, but alpha types like climate reality. I do not notice that when I animal species. They all board an Ark that consequential bubble in human history. me. do this, I have thrown overboard the caring It bloomed voluminously during the Noah has built according to God’s detailed reality-seeking part of myself. neoliberal era, fuelled by the powerful in instructions. 3. At least I am white and Christian. possession of oil and gas. It aggressively set ‘Strong man’ leaders will save me. The Christopher Hering said it is vital to keep My argument is that 21st century Noah’s omnipotent thinking free and it ignored price of passage onto the Ark is loyalty recognising that the ruthless ‘throwing Arkism is linked with awareness we are limits. Hubris, greed and triumphalism to the leader and accepting the leader’s overboard’ alien is also part of us. I believe in a climate emergency combined with were bound to soar in this era. For example, redefinition of who is ‘us’ (to be saved) and to do this we need to be talking now much an awareness that there is currently a in 2000, after Putin won his first election, who is ‘them’ (to be sacrificed and kicked more about the climate crisis and helping dearth of good leaders with the power to at his acceptance banquet his campaign off the ark if they try to climb aboard). each other to face climate reality. The enact a New Green Deal. A New Green manager Surkov made the shortest conversations we have with and about Deal would in my view quell some of the toast: “To the deification of power. To us Here, ‘all of us’ has morphed into ‘a select children are perhaps the most significant. anxieties people are feeling. I see it in becoming gods”, he said.6 group I am part of’. It is an omnipotently We can choose to say how wonderful it is part as a vital measure to improve mental constructed phantasy involving a pseudo that the children are striking for climate Whitebook argued that the phenomenon health. safe place, the Ark. People, under the and leave it at that and leave the problem

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with them (throw them overboard while said, young climate strikers don’t seem to believe we could be excepted from facing 3. Hering, C. (1994). The Problem of the “Alien”: Emotional Mastery or Emotional Fascism sounding caring) or we can work with the be thinking like that. They know the earth reality because we were so ideally special. in Contemporary Film Production. Free children to support them and also work to is damaged and they also know it’s the only It gave me hope. Associations, 4:391-407 help them to achieve a world they can live earth they have. They accept the damage 4. Brenman, E. (1985). Cruelty and in. and want to stop more damage. Sally Weintrobe is a psychoanalyst and Narrowmindedness. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 66:273- Fellow of the British Psychoanalytic 281 I end with a conversation I heard recently. They are the realists. We who will soon be Association. 5. Jillian Ambrose (2019) HMRC pushes steep VAT increase for new solar-battery systems. Someone said, how terrible that we are dead have the luxury of thinking it’s too Guardian, 24 June. supposed to do all this repair work when much to face and it’s too hard to work to References 1. Steiner, J. (1990). The Retreat from Truth to 6. Gabriel Gatehouse (2019). The puppet master. the best we can possibly end up with is an repair a world we have damaged. This is Omnipotence in Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus. BBC Radio 4 archive. earth that will still be damaged. Someone the sort of ordinary conversation I believe Int. Rev. Psycho-Anal., 17:227-237 7. Whitebook, Joel (2017) Trump’s Method, Our replied, yes, it is terrible but what is the needs to happen on a big scale to help us 2. Personal communication Madness. New York Times, 20 March implication? Do we think only ‘the perfect work through the invidious effects of a state’ is worth fighting for? Someone else culture of un-care that encouraged us to

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Climate emergency might be wrong? Nothing like this since Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5°C the dinosaurs went? Come, come now. (www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/summary-for- And I can hear someone telling me in a policy-makers) – and help them bear their reassuring and fatherly way to get a grip reality. For they make for grim reading. on myself. Getting Real For almost 20 years now, earth system We need to find ways of encouraging these scientists have been deliberating on the Paul Hoggett one-eyed ‘fathers’ of ours to read the two emergence of the Anthropocene. This new reports in question: the 39-page IPBES summary for policy tragedy which is without this because you adults are shitting on my makers and the precedent is unfolding in front future.’ It takes an Asperger’s teenager to summary of our eyes. We are witnessing cut through the crap. of the catastrophic rates of species IPCC Aextinction and biodiversity loss, soil and The IPBES Global Assessment Report on ocean exhaustion and runaway climate Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services tells change. me that one million species are facing extinction. Nothing like this has happened I sit back and look at what I have just since the dinosaurs disappeared 65 million written. Somewhere inside me, someone years ago. But wait a mo, that eminent is stifling a yawn. Blah de blah de blah. earth systems scientist Toby Young, writing Perhaps I’m lapsing into hyperbole? I’m in May’s Spectator, tells me that the aware of a little voice in my head which conclusion of this report (compiled by 150 says, ‘Paul, this is an exaggeration, you’re expert authors from reviews of over 15,000 in danger of making a fool of yourself.’ scientific and governmental papers) ‘doesn’t This little voice may be familiar to you, add up’. That’s a relief then. it’s a voice that says ‘don’t get yourself in a state’, it’s one of the ways we do disavowal, Now I remember John Steiner’s 1985 being creatures who cannot bear very paper, Turning a Blind Eye (Steiner, 1985). much reality. Here he suggests that everyone knew who Oedipus really was from the start; the story So I snap out of my dissociated state and of Oedipus is actually the story of a cover- go and look at the two recent UN reports up. He notes: ‘Chance seems to play an warning me of this tragedy. Hmmm. Now important role in this process, as it forms someone else pops into my head, it’s Greta the vital flaw through which the truth can the pigtailed, clarion young woman from be attacked’ (1985, p. 168). Of course! Isn’t Stockholm and she’s saying: ‘I am doing there just a chance these ‘expert authors’ Continues on page 6 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 6

geological epoch has three distinguishing Like an unconscious force, climate change 2100. This would make for an intolerable gathering, manifest in public meetings characteristics. First, for the first time in begins to influence all aspects of global world for our grandchildren. and on social media, and beginning to the Earth’s 4.7-billion-year history, the politics. Bruno Latour, the philosopher percolate into our consulting rooms. It’s imprint of a single species can be found of science, insists that we can understand This is where our collective disavowal gets more than thirty years since Hannah Segal everywhere; for better or worse, this is the nothing about the politics of the last us. Our direction of travel is clear and it wrote her paper on the threat of nuclear epoch of humankind. Secondly, and as a decades if we do not put climate change is one increasingly incompatible with the war (Segal, 1987). Rereading it, I notice consequence of global heating, nature, for and its denial front and centre. Consider, idea of human progress. We all want to both similarities to and differences from so long considered an object or resource for for example, the rise of authoritarianism carry on with our business as usual, busily the predicament we are now in. The same humankind to use, fights back. Thirdly, and and nationalism. As Ian Angus (2016) not seeing that it is in crisis. When you mechanisms of denial and disavowal in as a consequence, the climatic conditions notes, as early as 2003 a Pentagon report come out of disavowal, it’s usual to get relation to the danger are to the fore. which appeared on Earth approximately was envisaging a fortress-like retreat swallowed up by anxiety, grief, guilt or But the threat then was one of instant 11,700 years ago and which have provided towards self-sufficiency in the face of anger and, if these can’t be contained, to annihilation, probably of all of humanity, the basis for agriculture, settled life worsening climate change. Now the IPCC then drop into despair. Even when these whereas now the danger creeps insidiously and human civilization are now being has included this strategy as one of its five feelings can be contained, they continue to but relentlessly upon us, and upon some systematically destroyed (Lieberman & Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, one which trouble us. We have to learn to face these more than others. Back then, Segal felt Gordon, 2018). anticipates a rise of nationalism as ‘countries difficult truths and then stay with the that our own destructive impulses were focus on achieving energy and food security trouble. There’s no cure for being human denied and projected into the other group, The hidden hand of climate change, goals within their own regions’ (IPCC in these times. It’s like a chronic condition, the Russians, against whose hostile intent specifically drought and rural dislocation, SSP for 2021, Sixth Assessment), a scenario it’s not going to get better and it may get we sought an imaginary deterrence. Now, has already been discerned behind the civil which was anticipated a decade ago by the worse; we’ll have to learn to live with it, as we systematically vandalise the living wars in Darfur and Syria, and the food price radical US journalist Christian Parenti, who we’ll have to learn how to flourish in spite systems upon which we all, humans and riots that kickstarted the Arab Spring were referred to it as ‘the politics of the armed of it. nonhumans, depend, there is no enemy precipitated by the failure of the Russian lifeboat’. How will we adapt to living in a society ‘other’ to blame. Our destructiveness is wheat harvest in 2010. Social collapse has exposed starkly before us. It would be begun. Civilisation itself is now on the As the liberal political order fractures where spring has begun to fall silent, where climate refugees besiege the remaining tempting to speak of ‘species shame’, if only endangered list. everywhere, it is as well to remind ourselves it wasn’t for the inconvenient fact that those that, whilst full of good intentions, liberal temperate regions of the earth and where ecological austerity is no longer a matter of us (white, middle-class, Western) who ‘Social collapse democracy has never veered from a were and still are most responsible for this ‘business as usual’ trajectory. According to of lifestyle choice but something forced has begun. upon us? In other words, how will we mess are those who, to begin with, will be the latest projections being prepared for least affected. Civilisation itself the 6th Assessment Report, this trajectory, adapt to the kind of living that is likely in depending on the pathway pursued the Anthropocene if we continue on our What part does the human condition play in is now on the within it, would increase average global ‘business as usual’ trajectory? this? We are a strange outgrowth of nature endangered list.’ temperatures by between 3 and 5°C by Since last summer’s heatwaves and the through which one part of nature has IPCC Report on 1.5°C a great fear has been developed the capacity to become self-aware,

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take itself as an object of contemplation and that acceptance of mortality yields an how the attitude of analytic neutrality ‘can As Naomi Klein put it, ‘this changes shape itself in a conscious way. And yet it is expansion of being. In naming what is also become a shield of denial’. Speaking of everything’. To carry on, business as usual, still of nature – human subjectivity remains doomed to disappear, naming the way it those in the peace movement, she argued with our individual or group practices as trapped within the confines of the body, a keeps streaming through our hands, we that ‘we must add our voice clearly to their if this darkening world didn’t exist will body which suffers, ages and dies. can hear the song that streaming makes.’ voices’. She also felt psychoanalysis had a become increasingly irresponsible. (Barrows & Macy, 2016). specific contribution to make. Because of Perhaps only with the development of its understanding of the psychic defences, Paul Hoggett is a psychoanalytic our modern civilization does humankind I think that ‘song’ is the pulse of life, Eros. she argued we should be able to ‘contribute psychotherapist and member of the become partially aware of this tragic Perhaps only if we are prepared to stay with something to the overcoming of apathy and Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy. contradiction that inheres to being human. the trouble, stay peering into that abyss, a self-deception in ourselves and others’. But we moderns seem to find this fact of new spirit might arise. The new generation References life, our mortality, so difficult to bear. Our of activists, perhaps represented by those Today there are many ways we can Angus, I. (2016). Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Promethean drive to master the universe Extinction Rebellion activists who brought contribute to overcoming indifference to Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System. New York: Monthly Review Press. appears like a manic defence against this pot plants and bookshelves to the occupied the climate emergency, from engaging Barrows, A. & Macy, J. (2016). In Praise of Mortality: knowledge and the annihilation anxiety bridges across the Thames earlier this year, with the media to support (if not engaging Selections from Rainer Maria Rilke’s Duino Elegies that it elicits. We will become Gods. seem prepared to do just this. We ridicule in active involvement in) campaigning & Sonnets to Orpheus. Brattleboro, Vermont: Echo Progress, every extension of our control them for their idealism at our peril; it is we groups, from lifestyle choices which reduce Point Books. over the human and other-than-human, who need to ‘get real’, not them. our destructive imprint to developing new Latour, B. (2018). Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climatic Regime. Cambridge: Polity. seems to be in part a flight from this therapeutic practices which, for example, Lieberman, B. & Gordon, E. (2018). Climate change unthought and unthinkable known. ‘We are a strange support climate-distressed children and in human history: Prehistory to the present. London their parents. But the first step is to engage and New York: Bloomsbury Academic. It is curious to observe how, in the years outgrowth of honestly with our own reactions to this Segal, H. ((1987). Silence is the real crime. after their famous conversation on the nature through unfolding tragedy. Today, in relation to International Review of Psycho-Analysis, 14, 3-12. subject of transience in 1913, Freud and the climate emergency, an increasing Steiner, J. (1985). Turning a blind eye: Psychotic Rilke almost appeared to change positions, states and the cover-up for Oedipus. International which one part number of BPC registrants are making this Review of Psycho-Analysis, 12, 161-72. Freud becoming more pessimistic and Rilke of nature has contribution via involvement in the Climate less despondent. In her preface to In Praise Psychology Alliance, a network established of Mortality, a collection of Rilke’s poetry, developed the by BPC and UKCP registrants a few years the great environmentalist Joanna Macy ago. puts it thus: capacity to become self-aware.’ If the psychotherapy professions are to ‘Rilke’s is not a conditional courage, make the contribution that is so urgently dependent on an afterlife. Nor is it a With civilization on the brink, Segal (1987) needed, they must wake up to the stoic courage, keeping a stiff upper lip called upon psychoanalysis to play its part in unprecedented nature of the time of the when shattered by loss. It is courage the mobilisation of life forces and warned Anthropocene that we are now entering. born of the ever-unexpected discovery NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 8

The Climate Psychology Alliance Paul Hoggett

he Climate Psychology The CPA runs workshops for the its own small contribution to cultural Alliance formed eight ‘The CPA runs public on ‘climate conversations’, trains transformation. The CPA is run by its years ago after a number workshops counsellors and therapists working with members many of whom engage in an of conferences and for the public ‘climate distressed’ adults and children online forum and it now has members workshopsT at UWE, Bristol. It aimed and works closely with Extinction around the world and formal groups in to offer perspectives that went beyond on ‘climate Rebellion and other groups in offering Scotland and North America. conventional positivist psychology, support to activists. It is involved in specifically psycho-social perspectives conversations’, clinical and social research. Palgrave ‘CPA provides a that emphasised the role of emotions, trains has just published an edited collection, defences, myths and narratives in our Climate Psychology: On Indifference vital educational (dis)engagement with climate change. counsellors to Disaster, which profiles CPA resource, As an alliance it brings together and therapists members’ social research. Through the psychotherapists and mental health website (ClimatePsychologyAlliance. bringing professionals from a variety of traditions working org), the online Handbook of Climate therapeutic in a spirit of mutual learning and with ‘climate Psychology, a new series of podcasts and common purpose along with activists, its programme of conferences, public insights and researchers and others. distressed’ adults meetings and workshops, CPA provides a vital educational resource, bringing methods into the and children… ’ therapeutic insights and methods into public domain.’ the public domain and trying to make NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 9

Climate emergency

What is it like working in organisations that engage the public on climate change? Rebecca Nestor

lsewhere in this edition of New Associations, we are ‘This work helps introduced to the growing us to see the body of psychoanalytically characteristic Einformed scholarship on climate change. This work helps us to see the characteristic ways in which ways in which unbearable feelings (anger, grief, loss, shame, guilt and fear) evoke unbearable defences visible in human responses to feelings (anger, climate change. My psychoanalytically informed research suggests that grief, loss, shame, organisations which engage with the public guilt and fear) – campaigning, educating – on this most overwhelming of problems are infused evoke defences with the unbearable at both individual and visible in human organisational level. In this article I use the systems-psychodynamic perspective to responses to suggest aspects of the emotional experience of working in such organisations. climate change.’ Continues on page 10 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 10

Systems-psychodynamics draws on permanent departures, cancellations at change are characterised as ‘terrifying There is more to our organisation in the Kleinian object-relations theory, including short notice, differences over purpose and but far away’, while the losses associated mind than I have space for here. We have splitting, projection and projective activities, and caring responsibilities felt as with technological solutions to climate much to do to deepen our understandings identification. It is influenced also by the being in opposition to joining the group. change are ‘completely excised’. It seems of it, too, and to validate the connections work of Wilfred Bion and his successors Despite these difficulties, and the pain interesting that in our group, it was between our group experience and what on groups, and by the socio-technical and bad feeling they are associated with, precisely at the moment of trying to use our organisations are bringing to us, and framework originally developed by we are still persevering, still meeting and the technology of the social photo matrix we to them. But I hope the characteristics Miller and Rice. One useful concept is interacting. I have proposed to the group as a quick fix that something was excised. sketched out here – splitting care and ‘organisation in the mind’: the mutually that what we are experiencing may reflect un-care, splitting tenacity and apathy, interacting relationship between the the difficulties of co-operation and trust on One further indication is to do with need, technology as a defence, desperation and individual’s internal psychic organisation this ‘wicked problem’ of climate change. desire and judgement. As our group judgement – are recognisable to others, and their experience of the organisation I wonder too if it indicates splitting develops we have become more aware of as they are to me, as features of public in which they work – their own particular and projection: note the opposition the desire (which moves between us) for discussions of the climate emergency. response to an organisational dynamic. between caring and being in the group, more care, connection and fellow-feeling Within this concept, crucially, the working and the perseverance, which reminds than is available, of often feeling isolated Author biography assumption is that the dynamics in a me of the way tenacity gets located in and lonely and as if it is not possible both Rebecca Nestor is a climate activist and an group reflect the dynamics in the wider environmentalists, while apathy is located to be in the group and to have caring active member of the Climate Psychology organisation. in ‘the public’. responsibilities; and of the feelings of Alliance. She is a facilitator and leadership judgement that come up, that others in the developer, a graduate of the Tavistock As part of my doctoral research, I am A second indication derives from my group (and oneself) are not doing enough, Centre Master’s in consultation and the convening a small action-research group attempt to structure one of our early not giving enough, they (we) don’t care organisation, and a doctoral researcher at of people whose work involves public meetings as a ‘social photo matrix’. enough for us, they (we) are inadequate. In the Tavistock on leadership in organisations engagement on climate change. With Intended in theory as a form of containing our early discussions we acknowledged that that engage the public on climate change. members (including myself) from climate space, this design also arose from my our emotional experience of engaging the Rebecca can provide references for this change charities both very large and own anxiety-fuelled wish for a short- public on climate involves quite a primitive article on request: very small, informal networks and local cut to the group’s unconscious. And wish to move others, to get them to act. If [email protected]. government, the group has been meeting it led in practice to an exercise in loss getting them has a double meaning here regularly since January this year. We and broken connections – waiting for it may relate to getting our basic needs are trying to understand the emotional Skype to work, losing someone’s photos, met. Over the years, organisations trying experience of our work as a group, in feelings of being kept at a distance by to engage the public on climate change order to offer some insights into our the technology and losing our human have been characterised as getting people organisations. connections and therefore our ability to to change, and also as denying people basic think. Rosemary Randall argues that in needs (warm houses, hot water, plentiful The first indication came with our public discussion in the UK the losses food). The desperation evoked by this difficulties in forming as a group. We associated with the impacts of climate dynamic is there in our group. have had confusions over location, two NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 11

Climate emergency Extinction Rebellion Rob Stuart

n 31st October 2018, over one thousand ordinary people from Extinction Rebellion declared all walks of life were arrested and jailed itself in uprising against for their participation in non-violent direct the UK government over its action. failureO to act on the climate emergency. I joined the rebellion ten days later and There was no trouble with the police. took an active role in the mass disruption Indeed, Ken Marsh, chairman of the that followed. We targeted government Metropolitan Police Federation, is on buildings, closed down six bridges over record as saying: ‘This is very, very difficult the Thames and, during the International for us because my colleagues have never Rebellion, occupied four major London come across the situation that they are sites. I was part of the first wave of rebels faced with at the moment. They are Intergovernmental Panel on Climate changed in the new millennium. I that closed down the roads around Marble dealing with very, very passive people, Change (IPCC), we have just 11 years to remember the terrorist attacks, the long Arch. probably quite nice people, who don’t want avoid social and ecological collapse. The war, the failure of successive governments confrontation whatsoever with the police or IPCC represents the best minds in the to listen to the people, the financial crash, The rebellion has grown in size from a anyone else but are breaking the law.’ field of climate science. Scientists are not austerity and then, in recent memory, few hundred people in October to over generally known for their use of hyperbole. the referendum on Europe. With every We believe breaking the law is necessary ten thousand in April and continues to We are in a desperate situation. passing year, I lost a little more faith in to bring about change. We tried signing grow exponentially. We believe we are on the government’s ability to act in the petitions, we tried writing to our MPs, we the right side of history and are prepared I have been aware of climate change since best interests of the people and prevent tried legal demonstrations – so far nothing to sacrifice our liberty in honour of our I was a teenager. I remember the Kyoto catastrophic climate change. beliefs. During the International Rebellion, has happened and we are now out of time. Protocol, which was signed in 1997, and According to a recent report by the UN’s how hopeful I felt at that time. Everything Continues on page 12 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 12

It is not easy to live in a culture of loved that boat. In my mind, it came to the police lines, even though it would have with a view to building consensus and denial. Before joining the rebellion, I represent love, inclusion, diversity, hope, meant certain arrest, but felt torn between commitment to a course of action. frequently felt anxious, depressed, angry defiance and, above all else, an unwavering my commitment to the rebellion and We were invited to consider how we and occasionally desperate. I did not feel as commitment to the truth. my commitment to my family, who had would help each other bear the grief though I could talk to anyone about how travelled with me that day. As I watched of the coming climate crisis and build I was feeling, outside of a small circle of my five-year-old daughter draw chalk ‘The rebellion resilience within our communities. I knew trusted friends, family and colleagues. I flowers on the road, to the sound of heavy immediately that everything we had been remember how people used to change the has grown in cutting machinery, I feared for the future through so far – the struggle, the hardship, subject as soon as I mentioned the climate of the rebellion. More than that, I feared size from a few the discomfort, the pain, the sense of – as though the climate crisis was a taboo for my daughter’s future. subject. All of that changed when I joined hundred people impotence in the face of state power, the conflict between responsibility to family the rebellion and, for the first time, met in October to over ‘… these are others with whom I could identify. and responsibility to the planet, the near ten thousand the emotional overwhelming feelings of loss, grief and I consider myself privileged to be able despair, the ability to support each other to speak openly and honestly about my in April and experiences we and make sacrifices for the greater good feelings within a community that values continues to grow must all work – I realised that these are the emotional empathy and respect above all else. We experiences we must all work through are developing an inclusive culture that exponentially.’ through together together as a society, if we are to survive welcomes every part of every person, the climate emergency. We had managed to hold the space for as a society, if we including those parts that do not always four days straight, reimagining the famous seem coherent or cohesive. There are are to survive Please join us. The rebellion needs you. retail location as a place of celebration, tensions and conflicts, of course, as one with singing and dancing and music and the climate Rob Stuart is a psychodynamic counsellor would expect in any mass movement with play. Then, on the fifth day, the police and member of the Association of no obvious hierarchy. Nonetheless, we emergency.’ moved in, determined to reclaim the space. Psychodynamic Counsellors. share a common goal and are committed to I remember arriving at the Circus to find working through our differences together. As I witnessed the boat being slowly a police cordon around the boat itself and dismantled, I felt almost overcome by grief. There is so much I would like to say about the hundred or so rebels who had already Then, in that moment of near despair, the rebellion, but I will end by sharing ‘locked on’ for the duration. It had become something beautiful happened. Two rebels my experiences at Oxford Circus on the impossible to get reinforcements to the – I do not know their names – invited us day the police confiscated our iconic pink boat. all to sit down together, several hundred boat. The boat had provided a striking rebels or more. They suggested we convene I did not know what to do. I felt powerless visual focal point, with the words ‘TELL a ‘Peoples’ Assembly’, which is essentially to intervene. I desperately wanted to break THE TRUTH’ emblazoned on its side. I a forum for sharing thoughts and feelings NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 13

Climate emergency fact that there is someone there meeting This is a key word in Winnicott’s account them. Blissfully unaware of the reality of the mother-infant relationship, though of the situation, when it feels hungry it one of the things he stresses about it is that Winnicott’s can then attack the breast or bottle with prior to this turning-point a baby’s ‘crude abandon. At this stage a healthy baby way of loving’ should be seen not so much gives no thought at all to the wellbeing of as ruthless as “pre-ruth”. a mother that as yet has no independent Concern for the existence for it. So what does any of this have to do with horrifying amounts of plastic in the ocean, global warming, species loss or any of the ‘Weaning other environmental crises that appear to be Environment ourselves off fossil facing the world and which are the theme of this issue of New Associations? Johnathan Sunley asks whether we should feel guilty about the state of the planet fuels, among all Taken together, these are now quite often Johnathan Sunley the other things presented as posing a threat to human we might have to existence on the planet, if not to the he word ‘environment’ is one inner world. It was not that he questioned planet itself. This is certainly the view that Winnicott uses a great the importance of the latter. Rather that, do, is bound to be of movements like Extinction Rebellion deal in his work - sometimes from his perspective both as a paediatrician a painful process. or the teenage climate activist Greta to the surprise of readers, for and a child psychoanalyst, it simply made Thunberg. For them, strikes, sit-ins and whomT it inevitably triggers thoughts of no sense to speak – or indeed think – about But we can think highly disruptive protests are justified if pollution or climate change. Winnicott has a baby’s mind or feelings without at the of this also as a they draw attention to the danger of a nothing to say directly on these subjects. same time taking into consideration the global catastrophe and to the imperative But my contention in this article will be environment on which the very survival of natural one, a step for governments to act now to prevent one. that Winnicott, although a psychoanalyst, that baby depends. Hence the operative unit in the direction of thought deeply about the world that is our at the outset of life has to be what Winnicott I worry about this danger as much as home and that in his writings are ideas called, acknowledging that this was a rather growing up.’ anyone. But I also worry about the extremity and insights which today’s environmental clumsy phrase, ‘the environment-individual of some of the language and rhetoric we Winnicott thinks that a significant change movement could benefit from becoming set-up’. are starting to hear from Greens, and the acquainted with. becomes possible at around the six-month risk that these could actually have a counter- To begin with, the baby’s environment mark, as mother and baby begin separating productive effect, through causing us to Winnicott chose to emphasize the consists almost entirely of its mother (or out from each other. Now a baby might despair about the future of the world. We environment a baby is born into, in order mother-substitute, Winnicott usually adds). start to feel concern for its mother and to know from our experience as clinicians to offset the emphasis that until then Yet, if all goes reasonably well, its needs will mind about the impact on her of its greed. that fear makes it extremely hard, if not psychoanalytic theory had put on his or her be met in a way that allow it to ignore the Previously, it had only shown ruthlessness. impossible, to think. Yet when Thunberg

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addressed leaders from spur us to start taking better care of it by were too ruthless with it/her in the past. around the globe at this drastically cutting our carbon emissions and It can also be said that we didn’t know any year’s Davos summit, she so on? better. For what obtained until recently told them: ‘I want you was ‘the environment-individual set-up’ in to panic.’ That is one possibility. But we might also which we had only a very limited awareness strive to avoid such persecutory feelings of the world around us. A crucial issue by manically denying the seriousness here, it seems to of the problem. Or we might go to the Thanks in part to the work of the me, is guilt. If other extreme, driven by these feelings to environmental movement, that has we feel terrible despairing acts of self-harm in which it is changed. We know now how much the about the damage no longer the world that suffers, but us. If world needs from us and also how to begin we have already that strikes you as far-fetched, consider the demonstrating our concern towards it. done to the planet, couple in Sweden who lived like nomads Weaning ourselves off fossil fuels, among exploiting its and who were recently jailed for putting all the other things we might have to do, is resources without their 18-month-old daughter on a vegan diet bound to be a painful process. But we can any heed for the so restrictive she almost died. think of this also as a natural one, a step in consequences, the direction of growing up. As Winnicott will that This is where the perspective offered by puts it: ‘At some time or other in the history Winnicott can help us, I think. For him, of the development of every normal human a sense of guilt that does not develop being there comes the change over from naturally in a child will feel alien to it, pre-ruth to ruth.’ ‘since implanted guilt is false to the self’. Concern is different. Winnicott says that he Johnathan Sunley is a psychodynamic uses this word ‘to cover in a positive way a psychotherapist in private practice in phenomenon that is covered in a negative London way by the word guilt’. And what makes this Further Reading feeling tolerable to a baby that is starting Winnicott, D. (1954-6). The depressive position to separate from its mother is a ‘dawning in normal emotional development. In: Through recognition’ on its part that it does not just paediatrics to psychoanalysis. pp. 262-277. London: Karnac (1984). take from her but is able to give – and to Winnicott, D. (1963). The development of the give back – something too. capacity for concern. In: The maturational process and the facilitating environment, pp. 73-82. London: In terms of the development of our Karnac (1990). relationship with the planet, or, if you prefer, with Mother Earth, perhaps this is the stage we are at. It can be said that we NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 15

New Associations 10th Anniversary spotlight on the issue of an evidence base, a hierarchy. Yet all the most interesting the place of short-term psychoanalytic and intellectually robust work was interventions and the position of highlighting the crucial commonalities psychoanalytic therapies within the NHS. of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic Birth of New A deep legacy of homophobia within practice. This was especially the case where the profession needed to be addressed, this practice was being promoted and as did other challenges of reflecting a defended scientifically, as with, to take one contemporary demography, especially example, the work of Jonathan Shedler. Associations questions of ethnicity and newer issues of gender fluidity within the wider culture. The second idea was a notion of being Malcolm Allen We also wanted to provide a platform ‘at the table’. This was that the enormous for the rich wellspring of creativity, contribution that psychoanalysis could so patently make would only happen when ew Associations began with We were fortunate in our choice of intellectual depth and thoughtfulness that it sat at the same table as other related a feeling that we needed to graphic designer, Mike, who came up with existed within the community, grappling scientific and professional disciplines as nurture a conversation, at a beautiful and striking design which with everything from clinical practice, art an equal collaborative partner; that it was first between the BPC office embodied the newspaper aesthetic we were and culture to the climate crisis. in the business of respectful dialogue Nand executive with our members, but also looking for. The idea of punctuating the and cooperation, and not just sitting at across the membership as a whole. Not an text with drawings was especially inspired. ‘We wanted to its own table. It was an essential part of idle chat, but a purposeful conversation We wanted to encourage a writing style the magazine’s mission that it fostered about the future of the profession and its that was lively, urgent and journalistic, encourage a these interdisciplinary conversations, an discipline. Well, maybe some idle chat as rather than ‘scholarly’. This was a sweat at writing style that ambition it shared with our twin initiative, well! There was also a sense that we could first as many contributors tended to try and the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy NOW involve within that conversation a wider cram in what they wanted to be a paper was lively, urgent conference. hinterland of people interested in and into our average 800-word article length. and journalistic.’ sympathetic to psychoanalytic thought. But people gradually got the hang of it. At the heart of both these initiatives is New Associations was rooted in two that nothing is set in stone, that surprising, The last thing needed, we thought, was It came at the time when the BPC was large perspectives about the future of creative responses need to be forged for another psychoanalytic journal. And so in the business of establishing itself as a psychoanalysis. The first was that what every new set of challenges. And so, New the idea emerged of a magazine, but a dynamic and effective professional body, held together the various strands of Associations will continue to evolve and magazine with a sort of newspaper feel. in an environment replete with new psychoanalytic thought and practice was flourish. This one old lag, privileged to be The conversation would be generated and powerful threats and opportunities. more important than what divided them. there at its birth, wishes it well. not through ‘papers’ but via news stories, Impending (so we thought) statutory Still around was a curious attachment to reports from the frontline, short, sharp regulation of psychotherapy and the overwhelming desire to emphasise Malcolm Allen was the BPC Chief opinion pieces, letters, reviews, any means counselling dominated our organisational ‘differentiation’ between types of Executive from 2006 - 2012. of engaging with topics of vital concern to agenda. The advent of IAPT threw a harsh psychoanalytic practice, usually involving the community. NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 16

Helen Morgan

The very first edition of earns us a living while we are otherwise crisis. We are also urged to consider how person in the making would inherit New Associations was in changing the world. The revolutionary we work with patients at those moments and, mixed in with the pleasure were the Autumn of 2009. The potency of the psychoanalytic discourse when the defence of disavowal breaks pangs of grief. The dramatic changes front-page article by the lay, at its best, in its de facto challenge and down and anxiety and grief flood in. in weather, species extinction, erosion thenT CEO, Malcolm Allen, was entitled denunciation of received knowledge, its Following on from commissioning these of natural landscapes etc. that we are ‘Navigating a New Landscape’, a title deconstruction of the illusions embedded articles, the Editorial Group engaged in seeing now reflect the volume of carbon which referred to the article’s focus in everyday life, and its (near heartless) an interesting discussion about ‘Hope’, emissions of twenty years ago. The level on the impact on the psychoanalytic refusal to take anything for granted, and this intrigued us sufficiently to decide of emissions now are far higher, so who world of the rise in IAPT services from the most sacred to the most banal.’ to make it the theme of the Spring 2020 knows what the world will be like when together with the (then) likelihood of (Tolleson, J. 2009. p.192). edition of NA. We also decided to send this child reaches the age of twenty. statutory regulation. It also provided out a ‘Call for Proposals’ to all registrants a description for this new initiative, Over the years the BPC has been and scholar members which is a change I had just returned from a stay in the BPC magazine. To celebrate its developing its role in providing a platform from our usual process. We are keeping a cottage on the Llyn peninsula in 10th anniversary we are delighted that whereby psychoanalytic and Jungian the theme intentionally wide as we are Northern Wales. Close by is a delightful Malcolm has contributed a piece on the analytic understanding can be taken out aware that this apparently positive concept coastal path providing glorious walks, origins and intentions of this magazine, of the consulting room and applied to holds within it many complex analytic baby seals basking, cormorants and a and Gary Fereday, our current CEO, our current political, social and creative concerns. Some writers and activists within dip in the sea. This direct encounter comments on the more recent history. worlds. Worlds in which dangerous the climate emergency movement, for brings one home to where one belongs As was stated in the last edition, the and destructive currents are gaining a example, suggest that hope is an emotion – right in the heart, indeed a part of magazine is moving into a new phase worrying momentum. In such a climate which can be defensive in that it distracts nature itself. I don’t know if not flying, with an Editorial Group made up of our offer of a radical, deeper, alternative us from the realities of the work that needs or cutting back on car-use, or not eating clinicians, all of whom are committed to perspective on human behaviour is both to be done – a sort of fingers-crossing meat, or avoiding single-use plastic ensuring that the original aims continue much needed and much resisted, making delusional system that actually ends up will make one iota of difference in the to be met. the project not an easy one. It’s why it is ensuring ‘Business as Usual’. On the other global scale of things. But being part essential that the BPC continues to build hand, if fear is to be our only motivating of nature, loving it all – including this In her paper Saving the World One on the strengths of such ventures as the force, this can lead to other, potentially new addition to our family – leads to the Patient at a Time: Psychoanalysis and annual PP Now conferences and this dangerous defensive structures. Perhaps we wish to do no harm. I guess I just want Social Critique, Jennifer Tolleson argues magazine. have to find alternative emotions to power to be a better ancestor. that: ‘Freud (1926) himself believed Perhaps belatedly, this edition has the us towards change. Psychotherapy and Politics International that the greatest contribution of the Psychother. Politics. Int. 7(3): 190–205 (2009) psychoanalytic project lay in its power concerns of the climate emergency as The evening before I started writing this its focus and how psychoanalytic theory Published online in Wiley InterScience as a social transformational discourse editorial my niece rang to tell me she was (www.interscience.wiley.com) and that its utility as a form of clinical might help us understand the defensive pregnant. Along with feeling genuine treatment would be secondary. Our systems we set up to avoid thinking and heartfelt delight at her news, I could clinical work, he suggested about himself, about and taking action to address the not help wondering what this new little NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 17

On the ground An Ecosystem of Displacement Eva De Marchi

n a plane to Athens back is accepted or rejected. In 2015 most from Leros, a small and people making the journey across the beautiful Greek island in the Mediterranean were escaping war-torn southern Aegean sea, from Syria, but when I was in Leros the largest whereO Turkey can be seen across the sea group in the hotspot were Palestinians on a clear full moon night, I found myself from Gaza. thinking about the shared conscious and unconscious experiences of groups and The ecosystem of Leros is historically how individual and group trauma interact defined by processes of domination, with each other. I was preparing a debrief confinement and exile. The island is used on the two weeks I spent in one of the to host the Other and is home to what once most crowded refugee camps in Greece, used to be the country’s largest psychiatric where I had worked closely with an hospital, where the most ‘mentally ill’ and Austrian NGO team assisting the United uncontainable patients and the opponents Nations High Commission for Refugees of Greece’s 1970s military junta were (UNHCR). Leros hosts one of the ‘hotspots’ exiled. In the experience of many, on the established by the European Commission island and beyond, refugees represent in 2015 and run by the UNHCR and the an unknown, threatening Other who Greek government, where approximately want to destabilize and contaminate their 1,500 refugees live for an average of 18 physical, socio-political and psychological months, mostly in metal containers that borders, as the mentally ill and the can house up to ten people each, until political dissidents exiled on the island their application for asylum in Europe did before them. Fragmented identities

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and unsatisfied needs lead to a splitting simple explanations of psychoanalytic understanding of both the refugees and between good and bad objects. The Other, principles such as projection, identification, population as their hosts, and promotes the co-creation the Outsider, becomes the site of projected reaction formation and displacement well as that of the of dialogue, collaboration and integration, uncontainable anxieties and an easily and attachment theory offered some new rather than division and fragmentation, identifiable enemy. It is no coincidence tools to better understand their work and people… who live may help in dealing with the trauma of that the hotspot is located on the grounds to manage their own self-care and the alongside them.’ the transient population as well as that of the old and now disused psychiatric relationships with each other and the of the people (local and from the outside hospital. This is why the work of the NGO refugees. Furthermore, the establishment Back in my airplane seat, another world) who live alongside them (Volkan, becomes essential – it offers the refugees of something similar to a peer supervision peculiarity of this little island came to 2013). the opportunity to leave the grounds of group that we tested whilst I was there was mind, its architecture. Occupied by fascist the hotspot and to spend the day in an very well received and continued after my Italy in the ‘20s and ‘30s, Lakki, Leros’ Eva De Marchi is the BPC Public Affairs environment that is not surrounded by departure. main town, was built to celebrate the fascist and Policy Manager, a BACP Therapeutic barbed wire and police officers, and where rational architecture that emphasized Counsellor, an Honorary Psychotherapist many different activities are available, ‘To enable a design based on ideals of geometrical at the Maudsley and South London NHS from Greek lessons to film classes, from rationality and monumentality. However, Foundation Trust, and is training as a barber workshops to cooking afternoons. Leros to achieve the architects tasked with the design of psychoanalytic psychotherapist. the town, maybe taking advantage of the If these displaced and often deeply Reference reconciliation distance from Rome, experimented and traumatised individuals were provided Volkan, V. D. (2013). Enemies on the Couch: A psychotherapy, the task of the therapist with the trauma succeeded in integrating rationalism with Psychopolitical Journey through War and Peace. Durham, NC: Pitchstone. would be to help them feel safe and of the past and imaginative creativity. As I pictured in connected to others again, so they could my mind the town’s school, a mixture of experience a sense of normality despite to give meaning modernist and Byzantine styles, I thought the trauma they hold within. The work of of the Greek-born Italian artist Giorgio de the NGO facilitates this sense of normality, to the trauma Chirico. His early paintings, although filled but it often comes at a high price for those of the present, with well-defined geometrical forms, also who work on the ground. The working contain dream-like and ambivalent images, day is long and exhausting. Whilst on the a relational a significant contrast to the crude and island I worked alongside the staff so I and creative monolithic fascist state art. Leros needed could experience their daily challenges much more than bare-bones psychological and provide the NGO with new training approach… may training guidelines for the aid workers. To guidelines based on trauma-informed care. help in dealing enable Leros to achieve reconciliation with It soon became very clear that the physical the trauma of the past and to give meaning and emotional strain were significant and, with the trauma to the trauma of the present, a relational given the little time I had with them, of the transient and creative approach that enables NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 19

On the ground which students equip themselves for the behaviour’ in candidates who too easily task ahead: identified with their training analysts (p. 163). Other analysts such as Rycroft, Where and how is the poor wretch to Meyer, Davidson and Meredith Owen have Bitter Sweet: acquire the ideal qualifications which he also had misgivings, but it was Kernberg will need in this profession? The answer (2006) who finally and decisively called is in an analysis of himself, with which for an end to the ‘reporting relationship’ Reflections on the his preparation for his future activity whereby training analysts could decide begins (Freud, 1937, p. 246). whether or not a candidate was ready Training Therapy He also recommends re-analysis every five to qualify. Kernberg wanted to free years or so as a form of self-care and a way candidates from the pressures of reporting Carolyn Butler of managing what he came to see as the so they could work with more negative constant threat of id impulses re-emerging projections and thereby avoid the risk of an he training therapy has for anyone wanting to work in mental health, from the unconscious. Theorists such as infantilising positive transference whereby been a subject of interest it has also been seen as potentially damaging Fromm-Reichmann (1950) advocated idealization was split off from ‘devaluation and controversy since the for those trainees who may not feel free analysis to enhance sensitivity, improve and hostility, passive submissiveness, and time of Freud and his own enough to work through the vicissitudes of technique, reinforce theory and decrease provocative rebelliousness’ (p. 1659). self-analysis.T Most psychodynamic/ the transference. personal symptomatology. Orlinsky (2011) psychoanalytic therapists agree it should added his own findings of ‘increased My own research, in keeping with the be a requirement of training, but research My own therapy journey has been self-awareness… empathy, warmth and literature, has revealed both benefits suggests there are potential drawbacks as something of a mixed bag, with both relational skills, awareness of transference and drawbacks to the training therapy. well as benefits to this kind of therapy, as positive and negative experiences, some of and countertransference processes, The therapists who contacted me Carolyn Butler explains. which were eventually worked through. defense mechanisms… and decrease[d]… through an online survey were all With hindsight, I now appreciate how likelihood of burnout or unethical from a psychodynamic/psychoanalytic The so-called ‘training therapy’ has long much the success of the training therapy behaviour’ (p. 828). background with a mean age of 54.5, the been considered a subject of controversy – hinged on the extent to which my therapist oldest being 72 and the youngest 34. I something I was completely unaware of until and I could actively work through (or not) also interviewed five recently qualified after I had qualified as a psychodynamic difficult experiences, thereby transforming ‘My own therapy therapists whose experiences corroborated psychotherapist. It was only when I decided to them from negatives into positives. My journey has been those of the survey respondents. research the subject for my Master’s degree, research into this area suggests that which was subsequently published earlier reaching a negative transference – and something of a On the plus side, the data I collected this year (Butler, 2019), that I realised how working through it – can still be a real mixed bag… ’ suggests three main benefits of a training much thought has gone in to this particular challenge for trainees. therapy, all of which point to its clinical kind of therapy – and how much criticism It was Balint (1948) who first questioned usefulness. These include an experience of of it there has been. For while it has been Freud himself is often quoted as the training analysis, saying that it could being in the client role (which increased vigorously promoted as an essential requisite prescribing analysis as the main tool by lead to ‘inhibited thinking’ and ‘respectful empathy); support alongside clinical work; Continues on page 20 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 20

and a model of apprenticeship. There were me on it in a manner that meant the respondent who said, ‘I would not wish seems important to add that these benefits also drawbacks, which largely stemmed therapeutic alliance never broke down.’ So to say some of the things my analyst said could also be of use to other mental from a concern about confidentiality within negative experiences could also be positive, to me in anger’, was still able to look health practitioners for whom therapy the training context (even though the depending on the extent to which they had back on the training therapy as a place is not necessarily a requirement of their reporting relationship no longer exists). been worked through. to ‘thoroughly excavate and explore the training. For example, psychiatrists, clinical This perception left some trainees feeling contents of the unconscious, in order to psychologists and cognitive behavioural reluctant to work through both positive Other benefits related to the value of understand and resolve where possible therapists could benefit from personal and negative transferences for fear of being in the client role, and how this issues and conflicts which would otherwise therapy to support them personally, but jeopardising their training and future career. increased their own capacity for empathy: get in the way of working with our also to deepen and inform their clinical For example, one survey respondent said, for example, respondents describing patients’ unconscious processes.’ Having work. And if this therapy was ‘nudged’, ‘even after years I struggled to displease the difficulties of disclosing in front of said that, it should also be noted that as opposed to rigidly required, it could her and feared being disliked by her… another; the shame involved in being a almost half of the 23 survey respondents reduce some of those worries around I never fully worked that through in the client; frustration at wondering what the undertook therapy after having qualified, confidentiality in the training context. transference.’ Another said, ‘I stayed with therapist was thinking; paranoia; wanting which suggests issues in the training For others like myself, a training in my therapist for too long – I should have to be intensely close and special; fears therapy may not have been sufficiently psychodynamic psychotherapy provided walked out sooner but I had the fantasy I of rejection; longing for more; sexual addressed and / or resolved. the permission I needed to embark on would be thrown off the course if I asked to feelings; wanting to impress; feelings of therapy both during – and indeed after – change.’ There was also a worry about not powerlessness; feeling attacked; and finally, In terms of the research as a whole, one training and qualification. being good enough to become a therapist, resistance, or ‘doing what I can to get of the themes that emerged was the which could lead to trainees holding back away’. therapeutic dyad and its inherent power Carolyn Butler is a psychodynamic emotion. As one respondent commented, imbalance, which can lead to an overly psychotherapist and member of the My research also revealed how supportive respectful and positive transference. A Foundation for Psychotherapy and ‘amongst trainees there was a joke that we a training therapy can be alongside clinical could show our “madness” once qualified.’ further sub-theme was the particular Counselling. work, for example by holding painful difficulty trainees can have – a tension The importance of trying to work through countertransference feelings away from within this tension – whereby to function Reference supervision, normalising anxiety and Balint, M. (1948). On the Psycho-Analytic Training negative experiences was a constant feature well in the long term, they may need to System. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 29, among research participants, many of helping with understanding anxieties risk some turmoil and disturbance in the 163-173. and confusions about clinical work. The whom could look back on these experiences short term. This again comes back to the Fromm-Reichmann, F. (1950). Principles of Intensive with hindsight and see them in a positive research participants also experienced importance of trying to work through the Psychotherapy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. light. For example, when asked if they the training therapy as a chance to learn various transferences – as unhindered as Kernberg, O. (2006). The coming changes in about technique, or as ‘apprenticeship’, psychoanalytic education: Part 1. International were able to express negative thoughts possible by worries about confidentiality. Journal of Psychoanalysis, 87, 1649-1673. and all these points were reiterated and and feelings towards their therapist, Orlinsky, D. E., Schofield, M. J., Schroder, T., & one respondent simply said, ‘Yes! That’s substantiated by the interviewees. Overall, the drawbacks were significantly Kazantzis, N. (2011). Utilization of Personal Therapy largely what it’s for!’ Another said, ‘I outweighed by the benefits, all of which by Psychotherapists: A Practice-Friendly Review and Interestingly, those trainees who reported supported the trainee in their future New Study. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, will always appreciate that my therapist 67 (8), 828-842. drawbacks of their training therapy career. By way of recommendation, it could tolerate my hate and work with nevertheless extolled its benefits. So the NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 21

Review Fighting for Mother Earth Sally Warren has mixed feelings in response to a film about an Icelandic eco-warrior on a mission If you have yet to see the film: spoiler alert!

hat does a isolated power lines with a bow-and- single, childless, arrow in order to halt work at a nearby fiftysomething woman aluminium-smelting factory. (Is this feat Now, suddenly, in the midst of her solo lacking in my own existential dread about do in the evening when even possible, I wondered? Later she brings quest to protect Iceland, a motherless our warming planet, I wondered if my Wshe has finished her Tai Chi moves in front down a pylon.) To a government wary Ukrainian child is offered to her and she lack of engagement until this point was of the news? If you are Halla, the star that the ensuing publicity will sabotage must decide at once if she wants her life to the cinematic and ecological equivalent of of Woman at War, Iceland’s unsuccessful a business deal with China, Halla is a change. compassion fatigue. Was I suppressing my submission for the foreign language film terrorist. To the press, she is ‘mountain climate grief? Or is saving the planet just The challenge now set us by Benedikt Oscar, the answer is simple: You try to woman’. plain boring? Perhaps it is all one big pylon Erlingsson, the director, , is, it seems, to save the world. Or, at least, Iceland. Our after another. deal with two realities at once, much as his heroine, we quickly discover, is waging a In fact, Halla is all sorts of interesting heroine does. It feels trite to suggest that Halla’s lone war against unseen multinationals things. Eco-warrior at night, choir-mistress by day. A Gandhi disciple who believes activism is a way of filling the void of her who are despoiling the pristine wonder One reality is four-year-old Nika, the in violence. An identical twin (played by childlessness. What better way to spend that is her Nordic home. orphaned girl found clinging to her dead the same actress, so actually identical). your time if you don’t have to put the kids mother in war-torn eastern Ukraine. Her Woman at War opens with Halla running A criminal, but also a caretaker. Most to bed? And yet it is precisely saving the entrance into the film, via a photograph, across a Garden of Eden landscape, like significantly, she is a mother in waiting. earth that could now prevent Halla from literally brings life to Woman at War. Not a mythic war goddess, bringing down Four years ago, she filed adoption papers. saving the child and, presumably, herself.

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Review Downstairs in her basement, beside her Surely as all of us should, as we begin to pylon-destroying equipment, she uncovers experience the effects of our destructive the cot she bought four years ago and the impulses on our own Mother Earth. vacuum-packed bundle of baby clothes. Halla unstoppers the vacuum, and a long Fittingly, given Halla’s profession as a The End of the breath of air is released, just like a baby’s choir director, music plays a central role in first gasp. Woman at War. A three-piece band follows Halla on her quest: drums, accordion and sousaphone. The musicians are placed on World ‘The Icelandic screen during the action, as if they are part landscape, of the story, making the invisible visible. A neglected classic novel about eco-apocalypse impresses Rebecca Davies. The same is true of a Ukrainian choir. too, becomes The Icelandic landscape, too, becomes a he Death of Grass is a post- and ensuing lawlessness. Roger has an a character, character, inseparable from Halla. Hot apocalyptic novel written in associate, Pirrie, who owns a gun shop springs revive her frozen body. She is often 1956 by John Christopher, the in central London and he and his wife inseparable from seen running or swimming through lakes pen name of Sam Youd. The Millicent join the two families. John Halla.’ or streams. More often, she is seen clinging worldT it depicts is facing an environmental and Roger are ex-army and with Pirrie’s to the earth, face buried in grass, as if she cataclysm: a virus that wipes out all forms increasingly ruthless expertise they become Enter Halla’s twin sister, Asa, a yoga and it are one. of grass. Set in London and the English a triumvirate of military strategists with teacher about to immerse herself in inner countryside, it tells the story of John John as their leader. contemplation at an Indian ashram. Halla Sally Warren is a psychoanalytic Custance, his family and a group of friends is appalled: what could that possibly psychotherapist in private practice in London. as they make their way to safety in Cyclops ‘Despite the achieve? Yet when the law finally catches Valley in the north of England where up with Halla, it is her sister who enters John’s brother David is a farmer. fantastical her prison cell and offers to take her place. nature of what it In prison, Asa tells her sister, her mind is Early on in the book, David predicts free. the worldwide spread from Asia of the describes it never Chung-Li virus and starts planting his In the final scene, where Halla and land with wheat-free crops. John and his tips over into the four-year-old Nika leave the Ukrainian group begin their journey to the valley ridiculous.’ orphanage, the rising waters of the river just as restrictions on food and travel hit they are crossing (a sure sign of global London. He is assisted by his friend, Roger, The Death of Grass is well-paced and warming?) force their vehicle to stop. Halla who as a PR officer at the Ministry of supremely suspenseful. Despite the puts Nika on her back and wades into the Production has insider information. They fantastical nature of what it describes it water. Will she get to dry land? I felt terror plot their escape amid the complications never tips over into the ridiculous. The at this point, surely as all new mothers do. of a government conspiracy, mass panic central characters are allowed to grow Continues on page 23 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 23

convincingly and to be altered by their As Ann Custance (John’s wife) says, “Our family stronghold takes the symbolic form circumstances. Their plight is terrifyingly minds can’t grasp it properly, can they?” of a near drowning in the River Lepe. real. Nor do we really want to and thus it is better that this book can be dismissed as a While it is not really the remit of the This was Christopher’s first major success work of fiction, and even of science fiction, post-apocalyptic novel to psychoanalyse as a writer and he subsequently enjoyed a so that we don’t have to think about it too individual characters, Christopher holds long career as a prolific author of fiction deeply. the psychological and the political in an for young adults. In some ways The Death even-handed balance. The significance of of Grass might be aimed at this age-group. Christopher’s use of wheat and grass as the opening line “As sometimes happens, It is violent and unnerving but with its set- nature’s most prized and at the same time death healed a family breach” is returned piece battle scenes it is also something of a abused resource is highly prescient. In the to at the end of the story and the power romp. The plot is essentially a race against current food culture of wheat-free diets of what is not said between characters is time and against the ‘bad guys’, even as it and our increasing awareness of human firmly articulated by the Custance brothers becomes less and less clear who the ‘bad impact on the environment, the novel at the close. guys’ are. My copy of the book is currently confronts us with our narcissism. In his in the hands of my 15-year-old son whose introduction to the new Penguin Modern To end this review I want to comment on only consumption of fiction is through Classic edition of the novel, Robert the symbolism of the women in this novel. Netflix – testament to its potency indeed. McFarlane identifies the virus as “nature’s There is a wealth of casual misogyny in revenge… the return of the repressed” and the passive role wives and mothers play The Death of Grass follows in the footsteps this could apply to John and David’s family and how they act as foils for the men’s of John Wyndham’s The Day of The dynamics too. machismo. I attribute this stereotyping Triffids but feels closer to the psychological in part to the work’s post-war setting. and emotional brutality of Cormac The novel centres on cross-generational But if the Custance brothers suffer from McCarthy’s The Road or William Golding’s family loss and separation. The opening an unavailable mother, as is hinted at in Lord of the Flies. It is as much about the prologue Christopher titles ‘Prodrome’ ‘Prodrome’, then it could also be that they harm people are capable of inflicting (the early symptom indicating the onset are rivals in unprocessed mourning – and on themsleves and each other as on the of disease) and in it he describes John and it is this that fuels their fight to the death. environment. In the face of severe and David’s return to the valley from boarding Even so, the pernicious subjugation of all on-going trauma, the central characters school with their mother after their father’s things feminine strikes me as relevant for fall back on defensive – and sometimes death. At the outset the novel establishes what is done to Mother Nature. murderously aggressive – splitting. As I the brothers as markedly different. David’s read, I noted how my allegiances switched ties to the valley are strong, almost Rebecca Davies is a psychodynamic manically between characters to secure adhesive, “it was enough for him to be in psychotherapist in private practice in the ‘rightness’ of my own internal voice. the valley …like cupped and guarding London. hands”. Conversely John’s entry into the NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 24

Review is the first in The Political Mind series to insight to these matters. A deeper bring these seminars to a wider audience. understanding of humanity awaits the reader of The Unconscious in Political and The Unconscious in Political and Social Social Life. The Unconscious Life contains compelling contributions from Christopher Bollas, Michael Rustin, This book is available from Phoenix Jonathan Sklar, David Bell, Philip Stokoe, Publishing House. in Social and Roger Kennedy, David Morgan, M. Fakhry Davids, Ruth McCall, R. D. Hinshelwood, David Morgan is a psychoanalyst and Renée Danziger, Josh Cohen, Sally Fellow of the British Psychoanalytic Political Life Weintrobe, and Margot Waddell. They Society. investigate so many vital issues affecting From Institute of us today: the evolution of democracy, Edited by David Morgan Psychoanalysis President right-wing populism, prejudice, the rise of the far right, attitudes to refugees and Virginia Ungar: raumatic events happen “This excellent book is a must for analysts migrants, neoliberalism, fundamentalism, in every age, yet there is and for readers interested in understanding terrorism, the Palestine-Israel situation, a particularly cataclysmic our troubled world in a contemporary political change, feminism, austerity in the feeling to our own epoch frame. David Morgan, its editor, tells us UK, financial globalisation, and climate that is so attractive to some and so that the book is an outcome of the successful T change. terrifying to others. The terrible events series of Political Mind seminars given at of September 11th 2001 still resonate and the British Psychoanalytical Society since the repercussions continue to this day: ‘This book needs 2015. This initiative is really auspicious. the desperation of immigrants fleeing to be read by all The success in managing to bring together a group of psychoanalysts for a prolonged terror, the uncertainty of Brexit, Donald Galvanised by the events outside of his who are concerned Trump in the White House, the rise of consulting room, in 2015, David Morgan period of time, who were able to sustain the the alt-right and hard left, increasing began The Political Mind seminars at the by the state of the enthusiasm to discuss the effects that very fundamentalism, and terror groups intent British Psychoanalytical Society and their painful situations of the contemporary on causing destruction to the Western successful run continues today. A series of world today.’ world have on our subjectivities, is highly way of life. If that were not enough, we remarkable.” superlative seminars, mostly presented by This book needs to be read by all who are also have to grapple with the enormity of colleagues from the British Society plus a concerned by the state of the world today. climate change and the charge that if we few select external experts, that examine a Psychoanalysis and psychoanalysts with do not act now, it will be too late. Is it any dazzling array of relevant topics to provide their awareness of what motivates wonder many are left overwhelmed by the a psychoanalytic understanding of just human beings bring clarity and fresh events they see on the news? what is going on in our world. This book NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 25

From the Chief Executive Forward Together Gary Fereday

s I write the BPC is in trainings and our clinical standards, Our commitment to maintaining bring is properly understood. There the final stages of being we are embarking on a comprehensive the BPCs reputation for high clinical are some in the wider profession who recognised as a charity by overhaul of our website. We plan to standards remains central to our ethos and are anxious about the project but we the Charity Commission. A launch a completely new site in early our work. As part of this commitment our remain convinced that it is the right Asignificant moment for the organisation 2020; one that will better represent our Ethics Committee is reviewing our code thing to be doing and will enable the and another step in our development profession and include improved pages of ethics and our Professional Standards profession to embrace the changing and growth. Being a charity means we for ‘find a therapist’, details about our Committee our continuing professional external landscape with considerably are clearly stating that we are part of member institution’s trainings, as well as development (CPD) requirements. These more confidence. civic society. An organisation with clear resources for registrants and trainees. reviews will help ensure the profession charitable objects to advance the health remain contemporary and relevant in Becoming a charity means that we of the public, through maintenance of ‘Becoming a today’s world. have a board of Trustees responsible standards and promotion of training for good governance and ensuring our and to advance education in and of charity is key Our important collaboration with charitable objects are met. To perform psychoanalytic and psychodynamic step in ensuring colleagues at BACP and UKCP continues this role, it is important that we engage therapies and theory. Becoming a charity and remains a key initiative in our quest with our member institutions and means the BPC must become more the BPC is a to ensure a sustainable future for the our registrants to ensure views are wider counselling and psychotherapy outward facing and ensure that what we sustainable and understood and expertise harnessed. do has public benefit. profession. It is only by collaborating that Our academic scholars also bring a rich forward-looking we will ensure policy makers, politicians vein of academic work and thinking This outward facing approach will be and the media really take note of what that will need to increasingly engage vital if we are to continue to ensure organisation; one our registrants have to offer. Core to this and promote. Our trainees of course more people are aware of the benefits that can lead and is the SCoPEd project that is consulting represent the future and we are looking of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic around competencies, trying to ensure to launch a new trainee category to also therapies. To help ensure a wider and shape the debate the full breadth of skills and experiences ensure they play a crucial role in the better understanding of our work, our that counsellors and psychotherapists can about the future.’ ongoing development of the profession.

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Letter children. The reality of such unbearable By working together both within the experience, so detrimental to mental BPC and with our colleagues in the health, is rendered invisible in Israeli wider profession, the future will be Engaging with public life. While their lives are subject to bright. Becoming a charity is key step the same state power, young Palestinians in ensuring the BPC is a sustainable and quite simply do not enjoy the same forward-looking organisation; one that our ethnical “background of safety” as their Jewish can lead and shape the debate about the Israeli counterparts. future. responsibilities in Palestinians assert that, wherever they This edition of New Associations marks are situated, they carry a heavy emotional the 10th anniversary of the magazine. burden stemming from their oppression. Conceived by my predecessor Malcolm regard to Palestine/ Disempowered as second-class Israeli Allen it has become a much-valued citizens, living under occupation in the part of the life of the BPC. I’m pleased West Bank, besieged and blockaded in Malcom has written an article for this Israel Gaza, or as refugees, they have limited edition reflecting on the early days of the means at their disposal to ensure that magazine. New Associations is somewhat their narrative features properly within conference recently held and settlers, subject to arbitrary detention. different from many other publications a meaningful joint Israeli-Palestinian in London, involving Israeli military courts prosecute some 700 and I look forward to seeing it further discourse. In the absence of effective collaboration between, among children annually; denied the fundamental develop under the new editorship of restraints on Israeli actions responsible others, British and Israeli right to a fair trial, their conviction rate Helen Morgan. Psychoanalytic theory is for their suffering, in 2005 Palestinian psychotherapy organisations, drew our is over 99%. Children report physical and A civil society, including mental health and so much more than enabling the delivery attention to an issue that has not been verbal abuse, and interrogations under an effective treatment for people with other professionals, issued their call for the formally discussed in our profession, coercion and threat, with no adult support. depression or anxiety. It is also a way of boycott mentioned above. namely, our response to the Palestinian call Palestinian children are also routinely giving meaning to so much of life and for an academic and cultural boycott of exposed to the excessive, sometimes It is a non-violent strategy, couched help us explore art, history and current Israeli institutions that overtly, or through lethal, force employed against civilians. In within a broader search for social justice affairs. New Associations has always their silence, normalise Palestinian the 2014 attack on Gaza, whose civilian and peace, that asks us to refrain from attempted to reflect this breadth and I suffering. population of two million has endured actions that normalise and thus legitimise look forward to it continuing to do so. more than a decade of grinding siege Palestinian oppression. It has supporters That suffering is inescapable. For example, Gary Fereday and repeated military assault, over 500 from all nationalities and faiths, including Palestinian children are routinely BPC Chief Executive children were killed. Since the launch of Israeli and Jewish groupings. However, by traumatised by witnessing their homes the Great March of Return, more than no means all opponents of Israeli actions or villages being demolished, living in 17,000 Palestinians in Gaza were injured against Palestinians endorse it; some, for constant danger of violence from soldiers and 207 killed at the protests, including 44 example, feel strongly that Jewish Israelis

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critical of their government’s policies [Footnotes have been excluded due to lack towards Palestinians may feel isolated of space. For a referenced version of the BPC and CPJA joint event: and discouraged by such a campaign. letter, and correspondence, contact martin. Palestinians answer that the aim is not to [email protected].] ostracise Israeli colleagues/friends and prevent an exchange of ideas with them. Yours sincerely, Breaking or Making However, such contact should be in their Teresa Bailey, ACP; David Black, BPAS; individual capacities, thereby highlighting Penny Crick, BPAS; Cyril Couve, BPAS; Professional the protest against the normalisation of Gwyn Daniel, AFT; Fakhry Davids, BPAS; Palestinian suffering institutionalised Christiane van Duuren, BPF; Nicholas within Israeli society. Frealand, ACP; Tamara Hussain, ACP; Bonds? Progressing The issues involved in this situation are Martin Kemp, BPF, BPA; Frank Lowe, more complex than can be conveyed in a BPF; Philip Lucas, BPAS; Julian Lousada, Psychoanalysis in brief letter, and the feelings generated by BPF, BPA; David Morgan, BPAS, BPA; them are powerful and intense. Yet we are Eliana Pinto, BPF; Andrew Samuels, SAP, the United Kingdom not unaccustomed to bringing mindfulness BPF; Gustaw Sikora, BPAS; Jonathan Sklar, to complex and difficult situations. Our BPAS; Ferelyth Watt, ACP. aim in this open letter is therefore twofold. 8 February 2020, London Firstly, to encourage discussion of our ethical stance in relation to this appeal – it is addressed to, among others, the mental SAVE THE DATE health professions. We ourselves do not prejudge what our response, as a profession, To reinvigorate our place in contemporary should be. However, an outright failure to respond by “keeping our heads down” will society, this ground-breaking and timely all be seen by Palestinians as turning a blind eye to their suffering, rather than as the act day conference brings together BPC and of neutrality we may intend. And secondly, UKCP psychodynamic and psychoanalytic to work towards a clear set of guidelines, based on sound ethical principles, as to how clinicians to explore and celebrate our to orientate ourselves in any work we may undertake with our Israeli and Palestinian history, our commonalities and our colleagues. differences. NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 28

news, analysis, opinion for the psychoanalytic community | issue 28 suMMeR 2019

Brexit – Trauma, The Passion of Brexit PA Thinking and the Review – A Play for Identity and the (comment) Unhoused Mind Our Times Advertise in 4 Core Complex 6 8 15 generational response which suggests While my emphasis will be on examining Brexit has no claim on the future. There the inner flaws of Remainers, I want to is the evident ‘tribal’ nature of our emphasise that this is only an emphasis! The Passions gathering. For this is a shared crisis in terms of stay or leave, an impasse we have in common, In short it was typical Remainers, Brexit despite sharply different responses to it. hubbub – except that the daughter called of Brexit us out. This is underlined by polling which shows that, overwhelmingly, no one has changed I am no expert in psychology let alone their minds. The latest estimate by John By Anthony Barnett psychoanalysis. But the behaviour the Curtice as of March 2019 is that 85% schoolchildren observe in their parents are sticking with their 2016 referendum is a form of mourning. It is similar to or me the year 2018 ended us have parents from Europe. But what decision. Even more striking, people are a death they are not willing to accept with a vivid illustration of none of us like and we all talk about defining themselves in terms of whether but seem helpless to do anything about. the pains and passions of much more, she said emphatically, 'is the they are Leavers or Remainers much Denial, compulsive grief, self-anger, that New Associations to Brexit on the Remain side. way our parents just go on and on about more strongly than as Tory or Labour feeds itself on the hope that the death will F it. They have the same conversation over supporters. Brexit has in effect become a Good friends of mine have a bright young disappear and the past will be restored. and over, even during breakfast. They just source of primary self-definition. daughter who is just turning 12. All three Scathing rejection of the other side as repeat themselves. They work themselves of them came round early on New Year’s inhuman and plain wrong. Which means that Brexit has become up about it again and again and even start Eve before going on to another party. She a pathway for people’s sense of agency to cry. But they don’t do anything. We had put on lipstick for the first time. As rather than just a passive identity of wish they’d stop', 'It surely means we sat around the fire her mother, who affiliation. And having made a rare is Spanish, told me she’d finally met two A number of immediately recognisable that something executive decision in the referendum people who voted for Brexit. Both were processes and sentiments can be witnessed is taking place itself, they are sticking to it. The women. Then one of those married couple in this cameo. There is a powerful desire consequences are personal. The Daily discussions broke out. Was it accurate for the whole thing to end, cease and which most Mail ran an alarmist article in January or not to say they were badly educated go away. There is a compulsive sense Remainers refuse based on a survey of 2,000 people (one probably was), or upper class (the of helplessness. There is disbelief, for about how Brexit was affecting their same one probably was), or well off (both example in the way the parents talked to recognise.' relationships. It concluded by way were)? To break the pattern, I asked their of extrapolation that 1.6 million about the two Brexit supporters, in order It surely means that something is taking daughter whether she and her classmates relationships had broken up across the UK, to explain their affiliation to Leave in place which most Remainers refuse reach over 2,000 people talked about Brexit. terms of their lack of education, so that 2.5 million families had quarrelled and to recognise. It was put very well by a the issue does not have to be engaged over 10% of young people had reported 'We do', she replied, firmly, and paused. member of the audience at a talk Mike with as a judgment. There is also the family strain. Are you for Remain or Leave? I asked. Rustin gave to an Oxford meeting of 'We’re all for Remain. Many of specialists in psychoanalysis. He In order to understand the inner nature said that the behaviour of the breakdown that is taking place, of many of the we have to situate it within the larger Remain side social breakdown. This is operating at news, analysis, opinion for the psychoanalytic community issue 26 AuTuMN 2018 of the Brexit two levels at least: that of the political argument or constitutional system, the ‘old regime’ Where are we with Identity in Gabrielle Rifkind on Culture, Raceshowed and a classic with its uncodified system of conventions, Sexual and Gender the Light of Conflict Resolution Language inform the of denial, and that of political society at large, Diversity? #metoo Consultingnamely: Room ‘a failure ie all of us as we relate to public life. to take responsibility for The latter has been distinguished by a the unacceptable parts of long tradition of what is called ‘losers’ 4 yourself’. consent’ with respect to the regime’s 6 8analysts had trouble working with 10Fanon in his now classic ground-breaking government of the day. Even when It is this painful in the psychoanalytic them), became a powerful stereotype book, White Skin, Black Masks (1952). elections under the winner-takes-all complex on my side that took particular hold in the more Previously, through the class inclusive system were numerically unfair, the of the divide over Class, Identity conservative era of psychoanalysis, in work of the free clinics in the early 20th losers accepted the legitimacy of the EU membership that mid- 20th century US especially. It century, Otto Fenichel and Wilhelm outcome and waited to win their term. I most want to address, to still seemingly needs to be disproved in Reich had raised similar questions, about Good referendums generate similar help identify the unacceptable some quarters, despite the important how psychoanalysis could be practised acceptance among the losers. The part of ourselves that Brexit should Politics and recognition of cultural and other forms of in working class contexts, and what the Scottish independence referendum force us to confront. It needs time countertransference which may impede implications were for psychoanalytic of 2014 is an example of such a ‘good and sympathy. Impatience and an useful work where there are large social theory. This was an era when class was referendum’. But as we can observe, the urge to move on and ‘get it over differences. When the subject of class central to the concerns of many left and 2016 one lacks this quality. Instead it has with’ preserve the forces at work and Disavowal is broached in mixed class contexts, as social-democratic psychoanalysts, and generated deep and lasting division. deepen the negativity. I have found, a proliferation of mainly when the extension of psychoanalysis unvoiced experiences and emotions outside its fee-payingThis is true context for both was sides seen of asthe ‘We are in a By Joanna Ryan emerge, many very painful, conflictful essential to deepeningthe future divideof the inprofession. the UK. I’m not and troubling. These discussions can also saying that Brexiteers don’t also have breakdown of the provoke considerable anxiety, anger and Class, it is generallyunacceptable said, parts disappeared they seek not to political system.’ lass is a highly contested, class experiences and circumstances, inhibition – a testimony to the morally from politicalacknowledge. and academic These debates may indeedin be community We are in a breakdown of the political complex and elusive concept. especially those of poverty and social problematic nature of class inequalities, the West ineven the lastmore decades unacceptable. of the 20th But on the system internally and in terms of the In addressing class in marginalisation. This is evident in the and the different ways in which people century, andRemain this is oftenside we attributed can’t expect to them to relationship between the regime and the relation to psychoanalysis – now considerable but scattered literature in different class positions suffer, live the rise of identityrecognise politics. their faults Certainly, if we refuse to with and defend themselves against the identity politicsrecognise came ours. to the fore during people. bothC theory and practice – I have drawn on psychoanalysis practised in working news, analysis, opinion for the psychoanalytic community issue 25 suMMeR 2018 on a variety of sources to understand the class communities. Many parts of the impact of these. A further source of this period, and with the exception of many ways in which class is at play in profession have been and are engaged inhibition is the widely voiced feeling that most anti-racism movements and some continues on page 2 On the Regulation, Psychoanalysis Churchill the profession, whether acknowledged or with class inclusive projects of various it is somehow unanalytic to talk about forms of feminism, seldom included Psychodynamics Eldership, needs Research, and his not. I have also drawn on my experiences kinds, or work in various public sectors, class in clinical contexts. My suggestion class in its remit. However, the apparent of Boris Johnson and Analytic and Research needs Darkest Hour in aspects of identity politics to articulate where access to psychoanalytic therapies is that this derives from the theoretical disappearance of class can also be NA 28 Summer 2019.indd 1 and Brexit Work Psychoanalysis 23/05/2019 12:17 some of the issues arising when the (though not trainings) are free or low cost. vacuum around class that opened up early attributed to the far reaching influence of psychoanalytic world comes into contact However much of this experience does on,4 relegating class only to the purely Thatcherite ideology: the pronouncement with social movements of various kinds, not filter through to mainstream thought, external, so that many practitioners feel that6 there was no such thing as society, 8to leadership in the therapeutic world. 13It can appear that collaboration is taking and with the discourses of diversity, non- and is insufficiently recognised for what it they do not have a language in which to only individuals, which banished class and These two polarised views of leadership place (and indeed in some instances of discrimination and equality. Here there can suggest. talk about it in its subjective and intra- social structure from political discussion. represent, as we might understand it, a course it is), but the refusal of the leader has been much critical and innovative psychicMore aspects. DoingThis was followed by Major’s much split where on the one hand we have the to take up authority and the unconscious thinking and practice, as well as some quoted aspiration for Britain to become good idealised (rather burdened) leader/ anxiety about tyrannical power, leads to resistance, arising from the impact of 'Class is a highly Identity politics of various kinds are parent figure and on the other the cruel the primacy of the individual clinician identity politics, especially in the areas contested, often characterised by an emphasis Continues on page 2 authoritarian bad leader/parent figure. working in lone, idiosyncratic ways. of gender, sexuality and race, with class on the importance of historical, complex and intergenerationaland and cultural Less notably absent. This split, I suggest, perhaps represents a Sometimes in this situation the leader is elusive concept.' circumstances in the formation generalised difficulty with authority and more “Guru” than “servant” but the guru Use it to promote your courses, books, These identity based critiques are often of psyches. They also make hierarchy and I believe we can see this leader still offers little practical leadership contestations with theory and practice Class is thus an absent presence – much use of the notion of split at work in many of our organisations. at all and is too busy thinking great that is, or was, oblivious of its own internalisedBeing oppression, Sometimes it seems to be expressed via thoughts! Of course, they may well be significantly present in the economic, biases, exclusions, and blind spots, and cultural and social resources mainly first formulated a lack of structure. We have institutions developing the technical and theoretical its unreflective enactments of particular needed to engage in this field, but largely byBy Frantz Susanna Abse that have almost no structure, that resist aspects of our work and whilst this work socially normative positions, at the absent from professional and clinical what is felt to be “bureaucracy” and these is of vital importance, the “guru” leader same time as valuing much that is discussions: there but not there, a Why we need to encourage and authorise our leaders can often be chaotic. Here the leaders can represent such a powerful position unique to psychoanalysis in its radical form of disavowal. This widespread seem to hate their leadership role and feel in the mind of followers and accrue such understandings of subjectivity. They also silence requires explanation, having very burdened by it. Correspondingly, we authority, they can stand in the way of seek to explore the internalised aspects many sources. There is a long have institutions where this split seems competent, active leadership which would of various social forces and norms. We history of theoretical extrusions and to have led to authoritarian, hierarchical deal with administrative and corporate do not pretend to be a student I am hopeful that with good leadership events, therapy rooms or services. can broadly characterise these struggles disavowals of class matters in the structures where power is concentrated in needs in such a way as to move things of leadership theory, rather the tide will be turned but we’re going as pursuits for recognition, disputing the founding texts of psychoanalysis the hands of a very few. forward. these comments come from to need radical changes and leaders who more egregious misrecognitions, often on (which I describe in detail in my my experience as a CEO and can inspire us with vision, courage and the grounds of inadequate understandings recent book). The demeaning But let me extrapolate on the first side of Within the “no organisation organisation”, the other leadership roles I have taken commitment. And we’re going to have to of the far reaching effects on individuals I this split – the kind where the leader is institutional demands are negated and misperceptions that working over the years. Also, these thoughts are change our attitude to leadership too. of social forces and dominant class people were not “servant” and where the use of authority this undermines potential collaboration shaped by my more recent role as an ideologies, and/or because of particular suitable as psychoanalytic is avoided – I shall call this the “no around development and progress in Executive Coach working with leaders I was brought up with the idea that theoretical views (e.g. the rendering patients, (rather than that organisation organisation”! favour of stasis. of all homosexuality as perversion or and also by being a member of the leadership was neither something to be immature). With class, the issues are also Executive of the BPC. These musings celebrated nor sought. Leaders, I was On the other hand, on the other side those of distribution and resources, who aren’t aimed at analysing the dynamics told, were usually far from benign and '…we’re going of the split, there are organisations can afford financially to undertake either of our organisations – there are many frequently self-interested narcissists. to need radical within the therapy world which seem psychoanalytic therapy or training. But good thinkers who have elucidated these There were notable exceptions of course classically authoritarian and hierarchical questions of misrecognition also arise processes from a systems-psychodynamic and these were the self-sacrificing heroes changes and in structure. However, many of these in the cultural and class values that perspective. Rather this piece focuses on (Gandhi was the example here). leaders who can have endless committees which seem to psychoanalysis is seen to embody and the need for leadership and why we seem appoint themselves and write their own enact, that may appear to, and often have, to be struggling first to find leaders and What was valued in my family was the inspire us with rules and regulations. Lines of authority excluded working class people from its then when we do, we struggle to follow idea of “service” – being the servant was vision, courage are blurred and diffused with committees domain, or that fail to recognise and the leaders we have. “noble” being the boss definitely wasn’t. insisting on autonomy in order to carry We have discounts for BPC registrants understand the particularity of working As a woman, I felt very unsure whether and commitment.' out their work. Here too we see little There is no doubt that many of us are very taking up a leadership role and the change as the structures seem to exist to concerned about the state psychoanalysis authority that goes with it, was legitimate. The “no organisation” organisation will “preserve” rather than challenge, so even is in. In our psychoanalytic community I felt guilty and unworthy, so it took time usually have a clinician as the leader. This in this authoritarian structure, leadership there is a great deal of anxiety about and good mentoring to overcome these clinician may have been the founder or cannot lead in a classic “command and NA 26 Autumn 2018.indd 1 the future. Can psychoanalysis find inhibitions. 20/08/2018 12:34perhaps is identified as carrying on the control” kind of way. In fact, there are its way in the 21st century? Are there founder’s legacy. There is little structure patients who want it? Are there trainees So, I came to my role as CEO of Tavistock and there are consistent attempts to Continues on page 2 and member institutions. Chat with who want to train? It seems clear that Relationships with two rather narrow avoid decisions that might have many of the psychoanalytic institutions models of leadership in my mind. Firstly, consequences which would affect are struggling to make the adaptations an idea of the leader as narcissistic and individual freedoms within the needed to be relevant to contemporary self-serving, seeking power for corrupt organisation. The leader may society. We are behind other modalities and base reasons; or secondly where be strongly identified with the in many ways – for instance we are leadership is a noble activity in which “servant as leader” mind set or still trying to gather a proper evidence the leader reluctantly agrees to accept may be unwilling to really base and we have a long way to go in responsibility and is in service to others. take on the responsibility tackling issues of diversity. We struggle Interestingly, I think these two notions of leadership at all. Richard, our Communications Manager, to be “business minded” and we have, are also quite prevalent in attitudes until recently, often failed to use modern marketing methods. These resistances to change appear to have led to an enduring decline. There are, of course some green shoots, and real possibilities for growth, particularly as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) betrays its promise as a to discuss opportunities and costs: cure all. There is a growing awareness of the importance of good mental health in our society and also growing demand for talking treatments which should make for a favourable “operating environment” for [email protected] the renewal of psychoanalytic treatments. NA 24 Spring 2018.indd 1 02/05/2018 09:24 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 29

Diary

For full event listings, visit our Event Calendar via our website: www.bpc.org.uk/events-calendar If you would like your event listed online, please contact Diana, our Events Officer: [email protected]

OCTOBER October 26 November 30 November 16 PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE DISORDERED EATING: WORKING WITH AND SHADOW OF THE PARENT PPNOW 2019, THINGS FALL THROUGH THE BODY/MIND OF PATIENT October 12 APART: IDENTITY, INSECURITY AND AND THERAPIST British Psychotherapy Foundation, London THE BODY IN THE THERAPEUTIC SPACE FRACTURING SOCIETIES Confer, London http://bit.ly/33Bfd0n Wimbledon Guild Counselling, London Speakers include: Catherine Fieschi, www.confer.uk.com/event/disordered.html Helen Morgan, Fintan O’Toole, Sasha http://bit.ly/2OU8I5K £200/120 £130 NOVEMBER Roseneil, Jonathan Sklar, Philip Stokoe, Gary Younge The British Library, London October 19 November 1 DECEMBER THE ROLE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH ASPECTS OF LOVE: ATTACHMENT- www.BPC.org.uk/PPNow2019 TRANSGENDER CLIENTS INFORMED PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH £160/135/70 December 6 COUPLES WPF Therapy, London THE INTERNAL TWIN: THE DYNAMICS OF http://bit.ly/2ZgPCKT Tavistock Relationships, London November 23 TWINNING IN COUPLE RELATIONSHIPS http://bit.ly/2Z5luOC BPF ANNUAL LECTURE: R.D. HINSHELWOOD Tavistock Relationships, London ‘NEW EXPERIENCES IN PSYCHOANALYTIC £118 October 26 TREATMENT’ http://bit.ly/31T2lRw BOARDING SCHOOL SYNDROME: THE British Psychotherapy Foundation, London PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA OF ‘PRIVILEGED’ November 2 CHILDREN LIVING WITH MORTALITY http://bit.ly/2OTrUR3 BPF Wessex, Oxford WPF Therapy, London £28/18 http://bit.ly/2Z5mQZI http://bit.ly/2KKTUCn November 29 £20 QUEERING THE COUPLE RELATIONSHIP: November 9 THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH October 26 CHRISTIANITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS POLYAMOROUS, OPEN AND OTHER PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE RELATIONSHIP CONFIGURATIONS WPF Therapy, London SHADOW OF THE PARENT Tavistock Relationships, London http://bit.ly/2KIwH3G British Psychotherapy Foundation, London http://bit.ly/2KOaTnr http://bit.ly/33Bfd0n £118 £10 - £25 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 30

BPC – About Us

Our vision The BPC has a vision of a society that recognises and values human relationships and the use of psychoanalytic theories of mind to support emotional wellbeing, good mental health, and effective social policy to create a better society.

Our Member Institutions Our mission • Association for Psychodynamic • North of England Association of Our mission is to advance the health of the public through the promotion of the Practice and Counselling in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists highest clinical standards of training and clinical practice of psychoanalytic and Organisational Settings • Northern Ireland Psychoanalytic psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychodynamic counselling; and advance the • Association Of Jungian Analysts Society education of psychoanalytic theories of mind. • Association of Medical • Psychoanalytic Parent Infant Psychodynamic Psychotherapists Psychotherapy Society • Association of Psychodynamic • Scottish Association of Our charitable objects: Counsellors Psychoanalytical Psychotherapists • To advance the health of the public through the maintenance and regulation of • British Psychoanalytic Association • Severnside Institute for professional standards and clinical practice in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic • British Psychoanalytical Society and Psychotherapy psychotherapy and counselling, and through the promotion and accreditation of The Institute of Psychoanalysis • Society of Analytical Psychology training • British Psychotherapy Foundation • Tavistock Relationships • To advance education in and of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy and counselling and its theoretical underpinnings through, but not limited to: • Forensic Psychotherapy Society • Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists • the promotion of research and publication of the useful results thereof; • Foundation for Psychotherapy and • Wessex Counselling and Counselling Psychotherapy • and advancing knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically informed therapies. • Gloucestershire Counselling Service • West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy

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BPC – About Us (continued)

We are made of: Maintaining high standards • 20 member institutions • Registration Committee leading the reaccreditation of training courses and • 1,600 registrants member institutions • 500 trainees on BPC accredited trainings • Ethics Committee ongoing review of our Code Of Ethics • 230 practitioners on our DIT roster • Ongoing review of our Complaints Procedure • 400 practitioners on our MBT roster • Ongoing complaints screening by our Screening Committee and subsequent handling of Fitness to Practice hearings and Practice Review cases • 50 academics in our Scholars Network. • Upcoming review of our CPD process • PSA reaccreditation Our Board of Trustees • Susanna Abse, Chair • Lee Smith, Vice Chair and Honorary Treasurer Informing our community • Jan McGregor-Hepburn, Registrar and Chair Professional Standards Committee • New Associations magazine sent to all registrants, scholars, trainees and • Alan Colam, Chair of Ethics Committee subscribers • Harvey Taylor • eNewsletters to registrants and trainees 10 times a year and to scholars every term • Richard Serlin (lay Trustee) • Redesigned website to be launched early 2020 • Nikky Sternhell • Social media: @BritPsyCouncil www.facebook.com/BritPsyCouncil • Poul Rohleder

Continues on page 32 NEW ASSOCIATIONS | ISSUE 29 AUTUMN 2019 32

BPC – About Us (continued)

Our staff Delivering events • Chief Executive: Gary Fereday • PPNow 2019, Things Fall Apart: identity, insecurity and fracturing societies • Head of Regulation and legal advisor: Kam Kandola • Joint conference with UKCP’s College of Psychoanalytic and Jungian Analysis • Head of Operations: Nina Pavitt • Scholars networking events and ‘think tank’ meetings • Policy and Public Affairs Manager: Eva De Marchi • Annual conference for trainees • Communications Manager: Richard English • New member/registrants events • Membership Officer: David Jefford • Developing training on regulatory issues, e.g. GDPR and equality and diversity • Regulatory Support Officer: Natasha Quainoo • Events Officer: Diana Upite

Increasing awareness of psychoanalytic work • NICE guidance on treatment for • Journalists on digital, radio, print and depression in adults social media • NHS mental health workforce • Collaboration for the Counselling and planning Psychotherapy Professions • City of London • BACP • Parliament • UKCP With much of society at odds with Speakers and panellists confirmed each other and many disillusioned with include: mainstream political discourse, Britain is at a crossroads. There is a growing • Irish journalist and political tendency towards oppositional states commentator Fintan O’Toole, of mind leading to the fracturing of @fotoole relationships, alliances and groups. • Guardian columnist and author, PPNow 2019 brings together leading Gary Younge @garyyounge psychoanalysts, academics and • Jungian analyst, former Chair of the journalists to explore this tendency BPC, Helen Morgan towards polarisation and splitting within society as well as within our own • BPC Chair, Susanna Abse psychotherapeutic community; examining @SusannaAbse why the tension between the need for the • Group analyst, individual recognition of difference and autonomy psychotherapist, sociologist and and for affiliation and association feel so author, Professor Sasha Roseneil Things fall apart: in conflict. @SashaRoseneil identity, insecurity and Conference ticket prices: • Independent training analyst, author and fellow of the British Standard Rate £160.00 Psychoanalytical Society, fracturing societies Registrant Rate (BPC, ACP, BACP, Dr Jonathan Sklar UKCP) £135.00 @IndepPsychoAn BPC Scholar Rate £135.00 16 November 2019 • Director of the Counterpoint political Trainee Rate £70.00 science consultancy and author, The British Library We have a small number of tickets Catherine Fieschi @CFieschi available to people on low income or • Psychoanalyst, fellow of the Institute London not working. of Psychoanalysis, Training Analyst Please send an email in confidence to with the British Psychotherapy Diana [email protected] if you would Foundation, Philip Stokoe like to apply. @PhilipStokoe For sponsor and exhibitor packages, • BPC Chief Executive, Gary Fereday please send an email Diana @GaryBPC [email protected]