IPA in Health Committee Presents:
Psychoanalysis and Psychedelics: Theory and Integrative Practice Webinar
Date: 13 April 2024
Time: 10am-1:30pm EST | 3pm - 6:30pm GMT
The emergence of psychedelic therapy demands attention from psychoanalysts and an understanding of how the experience has deep concordances with psychoanalysis. Far from having the focus be on symptoms, psychedelic therapy can evoke the opportunity to deepen the therapeutic alliance, shift patterns of defense, and offer creative self-exploration.
Programme:
10:00 -10:10am
Introduction and Welcome (Harvey Schwartz, MD)
10:10 - 10:30am
Talk 1: History of Psychedelic Psychoanalysis
A brief review of the history of psychedelic psychoanalysis in mid 20th Century: USA, Canada, South America, (Argentina) Czechoslovakia, Italy, England.
(Jeffrey Guss, MD)
10:30 - 11:10am
Talk 2: Non-ordinary states of consciousness and the therapeutic relationship
An exploration of NOSCs as their relation to free association, Klein’s concepts of phantasy formation and their exploration in substance-assisted therapy.
(Gita Vaid, MD)
11:10 - 11:15am
Break
11:15 -11:35 am
Talk 3: Neuropsychoanalysis of psychedelic experience
Introduction to Default Mode Network, ego dissolution, hyperassociative states and attachment.
(Jeffrey Guss, MD)
11:35 -12:15 pm
Talk 4: Neuropsychoanalysis of psychedelics
Concepts addressed: Substance-assisted psychotherapy affective neuroscience and fundamental analytic principles; introduction to and Friston/Carhartt-Harris’ free energy.
(Eli Kotler, MD)
12:15 -12:20 pm
Break
12:20 -1:00 pm Talk 5:
An Integrative Discussion of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Exploring the nature of emergent insight and meaning, with reference to the symbolism and potential encounter with Self produced by ketamine's unique pharmacology, now known to disrupt the very neurophysiologic architecture that controls and stereotypes waking consciousness, perception and self-awareness.
(Jeffrey Becker, MD)
1:00 -1:05 pm
Break
1:05-1:30 pm
Open Q and A (all speakers)
Presenters (in order):
Jeffrey Guss MD
Jeffrey Guss, MD is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, researcher and teacher with an interest in the integration of psychoanalytic therapy and psychedelic therapy. He is on the faculty of the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, a Lead Trainer with Fluence and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine.
Dr. Guss was the Co-Principal Investigator and Director of Psychedelic Therapy Training for the NYU study on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of cancer related anxiety and is a study therapist with numerous clinical trials of psychedelic therapy. He is currently a trainer and study therapis with a University of Michigan study on psilocybin assisted therapy for treatment of fibromyalgia. He recently published “A Psychoanalytic Perspective on Psychedelic Experience” in the most recent issue of Psychoanalytic Dialogues and has published in Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society.
He maintains a private practice of analytic psychotherapy, including Ketamine Psycholytic Therapy in New York City .
Gita Vaid MD
Gita Vaid is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing in New York City. Dr Vaid completed her residency training at NYU Medical Center and her psychoanalytic training at the Psychoanalytic Association of New York affiliated with NYU. Her early biological and research background includes a completed fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology and neurophysiology at New York Medical College and a research fellowship at NYU Medical Center.
Dr Vaid serves as the International Course Director for Mind Medicine Australia’s Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies Training Program.
Dr Vaid is a leader in ketamine assisted psychotherapy which she practices in New York City. She serves as a lead instructor at The Ketamine Training Center with psychedelic psychotherapy pioneer, Dr. Phil Wolfson.
Dr Vaid serves as the Director of Psychedelic Awareness and Consciousness research at The Chopra Foundation.
She is a co-founder of the Center for Natural Intelligence — a multidisciplinary laboratory dedicated to psychedelic psychotherapy innovation and research.
Eli Kotler MD
Dr Eli Kotler is a psychiatrist and psychodynamic psychotherapist, and despite years of therapy still doesn't know why he is anxious. He is the medical director of Malvern Private Hospital, a trauma and dynamically-based hospital helping those with addictions. He is a lecturer at Monash University (Melbourne), and involved in psychedelic research. He is an independent medical expert for historical abuse cases, the Australian Director of the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, and is actively treating patients in Australia with MDMA-assisted therapy.
Jeffrey Becker MD
Jeffrey Becker, MD has over 20 years of research and clinical experience in NMDA-receptor pharmacology and clinical use, being one of the first MDs in the U.S. administering ketamine for depression in the clinic. He has over 10 years of experience training clinicians in ketamine protocols and ketamine assisted psychotherapy, and is a world recognized speaker translating neurobiologic processes that produce the variation between ketamine and psychedelic transcendence. In clinical practice, Dr. Becker focuses on whole health integration, combining conventional medicine with research-supported nutrients and complimentary treatment modalities.
Moderated by Harvey Schwartz, MD
Harvey Schwartz MD is a Training and Supervising Psycho-Analyst at the Psychoanalytic Association of New York and at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia. He is also Executive Producer and Host of the podcast IPA Off the Couch and serves as Co-Chair for IPA in Health.