Psychoanalysis under Conditions of War

The question of an “ethical stance” has remained a central theme for psychoanalysts working right now in the midst of the war in Ukraine. Since many attendees and discussants expressed the strong wish to keep this discussion going after the first evening in the summer of 2022, the series continues. Françoise Davoine and Gerard Fromm will meet with interested psychoanalysts, psychologists and other professionals from the Ukraine and other countries.

This evening will provide another opportunity to discuss in detail clinical questions arising from the treatment of patients during war with the renowned trauma experts. Clinical cases will be presented by Ukrainian psychoanalysts and psychotherapists.

A critical point that has emerged during our discussions is that the analyst may have to abandon their typical stance of neutrality and abstinence and will have to work within a very different frame setting, but that does not imply that they stop being a psychoanalyst in their thinking and treatment of severely traumatized patients. We will explore this and other clinical questions during our twenty-first meeting.

Translation (English-Ukrainian) will be provided.