Dear Colleagues,
In this period of troubles in the world, I am particularly aware of how much I take for granted. An example is taking for granted that my life is not directly disrupted by a war. Oleksii Lemeshchuk’s interview in this newsletter reminds me of how quickly life can become a struggle for life itself. In that context, I tend to wonder about the importance of my contributions to society as a psychotherapist. It is encouraging to read that psychotherapy has an important role in helping both individuals and society in a time of war. In keeping with that theme, Silvia Bernardi and Glauco Valdivieso have written an important commentary in this newsletter on “The role of psychodynamically informed therapy in complex socio-political realities” in which they elaborate on Otto Kernberg’s reflections on malignant narcissism and group processes. I encourage you all to read it.
Another area of grave concern these days is the increasing level of mental health problems in our adolescents. The TFP-Adolescent (TFP-A) committee is a very important part of our Society and the members of the Committee are highly aware of the current crisis in the adolescent mental health. The path to becoming a certified TFP-A therapist involves a major investment in training. While we are pleased to see increased interest in obtaining full certification in working with adolescents, we are aware that many of our therapists who are certified in TFP for adults are asked to see adolescent patients. I have asked Lina Normandin, the chair of the TFP-A Committee to begin to conceptualize a training workshop that would provide the community of TFP therapists with the major concepts and tools that are necessary in treating adolescent patients. This plan for Adolescent Workshops would not replace the full specialization in TFP-A but would allow our general TFP therapists to be better equipped to help this population of patients.
Looking to the future, it is my pleasure to announce that the next ISTFP Biennial Conference will take place in New York City on September 27, 28, and 29, 2024. We are planning to have the conference in-person for the first time in six years. As we look forward to this event, I would like to again thank Anna Buchheim and her Innsbruck and Munich colleagues for the excellent job they did in organizing the past two conferences and to empathize with the disappointment we all shared that those conferences could not bring us together in person in Innsbruck.
In ending this message, I extend my gratitude to our Public Relations Committee for the energy, creativity, and wisdom that they put into producing the ISTFP newsletters.
With best wishes,
Frank
Frank E. Yeomans, MD, PhD
Frank E. Yeomans, MD, PhD, is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University. He is a Senior Consultant in and teaches internationally for the Personality Disorders Institute, and is in private practice in White Plains and New York City.