Connections and Conversation is a free monthly Zoom meeting, cultivating creativity and freedom of thought and feeling. We invite you to engage with our presenters and community as they share their interests and passions in conversation on current topics in psychoanalysis.

This free event that alternates times. The meeting often begins with a 45 minute presentation followed by 45 minutes of conversation. When an event is recorded you can access the recording at the vault.

This series is open to all.

In case of questions please contact: [email protected]

A vexing clinical moment with an addictive patient provokes the author’s “inner-Bogart” voice, a cynical wise-guy persona confirming the author’s sometimes pessimistic perspective, clouding his awareness. After attempting and failing to rebuff such pessimism, he recalls a childhood love of film noir and the poignant family memories associated with it, transforming him as a frustrated therapist into a detective seeking “clues” about the case. He discovers unseen clinical parallels in his own upbringing with alcoholic caregivers. By integrating his “inner gumshoe,” he finds that his patient shares his black humor. This loosens their mutual tension and frees up the patient’s affectivity. The initial tension now leads to a cocreated alliance, the author hoping the patient will Say it again, Sam.