Synopsis
The Ninth Joint International Conference will focus on “belonging”. A sense of belonging – to a family, a social, political, or other group – establishes one’s personal identity, and can provide comfort and validation through connection to others. Belonging can open up possibilities and promote freedom, choice, and responsibility. Yet it can also restrict possibilities through conformism, perpetuating a false sense of superiority, and intolerance toward the excluded ‘other’. How one copes with the feeling of being left out, of not being part of a larger entity, of being invisible and/or unwanted at different points in the life cycle, has profound implications for development and for mental health more generally.
Many of the originators of psychoanalysis were outsiders – to their culture and the mainstream psychiatric zeitgeist of the time. Moreover, the historical development of psychoanalysis has been riled by internal battles between theoretical schools, creating insiders and outsiders. Many of those who were not allowed to belong ultimately made theoretical contributions that enriched psychoanalysis, making it the ecumenical field that it is today.
The upcoming conference offers the opportunity to address “belonging” including, but not limited to: ~Exclusion/inclusion/marginalization
~Forming an identity/feeling a part of something
~Shame of belonging to a despised group
~Building walls/breaking down walls/feeling threatened by being excluded
~Belonging as providing a sense of well-being
~Pretending not to belong
~Belonging and issues of immigration, losing one’s country and culture/having to assimilate
~Role of technology, including social media, in fostering a sense of belonging or alienation
~Belonging (or not) in one’s family (including stepfamilies; in-laws; adoption)
CLICK HERE for the FULL CONFERENCE BROCHURE
Sponsored by: Adelphi Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, The Psychoanalytic Society of the NYU Postdoctoral Program, Psychoanalytic Clinicians of Nova Scotia, Toronto Society for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, and the William Alanson White Psychoanalytic Society
HOTEL DETAILS: Click Here
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Those interested in travel arrangements can contact the following travel agent who can arrange post conference tours as well as flights to and from Halifax:
Candice Harnish |Travel Consultant
Carlson Wagonlit Harveys Travel
phone: 1 902 425 3200 | fax:+1 902 425 2984