October Scientific Meeting

 

This film is a BBC's documentary recording of the teaching process of Infant Observation at the Tavistock Clinic in London. It follows the lives of infants and their observers over a two year period.

Infant Observation is an experiential learning process which deepens an observer's capacity to tolerate many simultaneous emotional experiences while observing the lives of the family members who themselves are going through changes that the birth of a new member brings. Observing an infant weekly from birth to one year gives a unique opportunity to learn about early childhood development as it is happening. This "experience near" form of learning allows access to the infant's earliest relationships with parents, siblings, and others in the family milieu.

Reflecting on these experiences in weekly classes with fellow observers and trained facilitators helps develop the capacity to infer mental growth and development in the infant and family members being observed. For many, there is a valuable carry over from this course to being able to better recognize and speak to the infant aspects of patients in the treatment situation, whatever their chronological age.

Scientific meetings are open to psychoanalysts and other mental health professionals interested in evolving psychoanalytic theory and the application of psychoanalytic concepts to clinical work with patients.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will learn what the Tavistock model of Infant observation is.

2. Participants will learn the relevance of Infant Observation to therapy skills.

3. Participants will be encouraged to discuss their emotional reaction to the film.

4. Participants will be given information that enables them to determine the value of Infant Observation for honing their own therapeutic skills.

About the presenters

Judy K. Eekhoff, PhD, FIPA is the Past-President of Northwestern Psychoanalytic Society & Institute. She is an IPA certified training and supervising psychoanalyst and a licensed child psychologist. She has a private practice in Seattle, Washington, USA where she also teaches, writes, and consults. She is a full faculty member of Northwestern Psychoanalytic Society & Institute, of Seattle Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, and of COR Northwest Family Development Center.

Barbara Sewell, MaMFC, MDIV, MRE, MIPA has a background in literature, education, religion and counseling. She is a graduate of NPSI and is currently the Chair of the Curriculum Committee. She sees adult patients in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in her private practice in Bellevue where her work is informed by her educational background and British Object Relations theory.

To register as an NPSI candidate, or if you have questions, email the NPSI administrator at admin@npsi.us.com.