Call For Papers

The Conversational Model of Psychotherapy has been one of the few models of contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy to have its roots anchored in the relational, biological, and research domains.

Three key ideas of the model are:  therapy involves a particular use of language; which is aimed at generating a very specific form of relatedness (fellow-feeling); and this type

ANZAP was formed in 1987 to improve opportunities for the exchange of ideas, to establish a regular training program in contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and from time to time a supervisor training program for those who have received training.

History
ANZAP arose out of the psychotherapy program developed and run since 1983 by the Psychotherapy Unit, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital; where the ideas of Russell Meares and the late Robert Hobson which began to develop in 1965 in the United Kingdom, linked here in Sydney with those of Kohut’s Self Psychology, the humanistic tones of which resonated with their ideas. Based on their many years of combined clinical experience, and the early clinical experience developed within this unit, it took a new direction – being process oriented rather than structural, and came to be known as the Conversational Model – named by Robert Hobson.

The Conversational Model
Self is conceived as a particular form of mental activity, or process, the dynamic and moving form of which is manifest in the stream of consciousness (William James) and in certain kinds of conversation. The theoretical framework of the Conversational Model depends mainly on the development of self in relatedness, and the integration of unconscious traumatic memory. It has rigorously integrated psychoanalytic understanding with research in the fields of trauma and developmental theory, linguistics, and memory along with neurophysiology, in a way that is applicable in day to day psychotherapeutic practice, and can be taught through the supervision of audio-taped sessions with patients, complemented with didactic seminars and reading material. It has been and continues to be scientifically tested and published. It continues to evolve while maintaining it basic and core features.

Seminars & Publications
ANZAP publishes a quarterly bulletin, a yearly journal ‘Self in Conversation’ and presents bi-monthly seminars on contemporary issues with a mix of clinical and theoretical content, and from time to time an interesting range of seminars pertinent to important psychoanalytic topics of the day.

The Annual Conference
With invited and submitted papers, interesting key-note speakers and workshops is the highlight of the year and attracts quite considerable interest in the psychotherapy community.

Training
Several Training programs have been successfully conducted over the years in Christchurch, Melbourne, Townsville, Canberra, and currently in Hobart.

Communciation with Infants: Its Motives and Dynamic Emotions

VENUE: AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, College Street, Sydney.
DATES: 14th February, 28th March, 9th May, 18th July, 8th August, 7th November.

Speakers and Title to be advised.