Nancy J. Chodorow, Ph.D. Toward An American Independent Tradition

This paper presents ideas in progress about the development of an American Independent Tradition, which the author has tentatively called intersubjective ego psychology. The American Independent Tradition filters and develops ideas found originally in the writings of Hans Loewald. It constitutes a middle ground between egopsychology and relational psychoanalysis.

The tradition recognizes the analytic relationship but preserves the individuality and autonomy of each participant.The paper compares and contrasts the American Independent Tradition with the British Independent Tradition and wonders whether we can find independent traditions in other parts of the analytic world. This presentation of ideas in progress is meant to spark discussion and reflection about the trajectory of psychoanalysis in the United States, about the uses of theory,and about alternative ways of conceptualizing and using the relationship in clinical work.

Nancy J. Chodorow, Ph.D. is Training and Supervising Analyst, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute; Geographic Regional Supervising Analyst, Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center; and Faculty, San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. She is Lecturer on Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School at the Cambridge Health Alliance, and Professor Emerita of Sociology and Clinical Faculty Emerita, University of California, Berkeley. Her books include The Reproduction of Mothering (1978, 2nd. ed., 1999); Feminism and Psychoanalytic Theory (1989); Femininities, Masculinities, Sexualities: Freud and Beyond (1994); The Power of Feelings: Personal Meaning in Psychoanalysis, Gender, and Culture (1999); and Individualizing Gender and Sexuality: Theory and Practice (2012). She is author of numerous articles on comparative psychoanalytic theory and technique, Loewald and the Loewaldian tradition, sexuality, the psychology of women, and gender. She is recipient of numerous awards, prizes, and fellowships. Dr. Chodorow is in private practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Friday, March 15th

Bigelow Conference Center

7:00-9:00 pm

2 Continuing Education Credits

$35 General Admission / NO CE

$50 w/ 2 CE/CME

$15 Student with ID/No CE

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will learn about the American Independent Tradition

2. Participants will consider the role of theory in clinical work

3. Participants will think about psychoanalytic independent traditionshttp://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/8/8/c/event_202619532.jpeg