The Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis aims to raise the profile of psychoanalysis as a clinical practice and a field of cultural and intellectual enquiry. Our events provide a forum for critical perspectives on contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice. Recently we put on a staged reading of Sarah Kane’s 4:48 Psychosis at the Arcola Theatre followed by responses by Haya Oakley, Darian Leader and Dr Michael Sinason. Site conferences have explored the work of Jung, Lacan and Winnicott and have engaged with the issues of homosexuality and class. Some of the papers given at these conferences are published in editions of our home journal, Sitegeist.

 

Other public events have included talks by writers, philosophers and analysts, including Hanif Kureishi, Andrew Samuels, Peter Osborne and Jacqueline Rose. Site analysts have also held dialogues with analysts and cultural figures who have connected strongly with contemporary issues in their work: Chris Oakley with Adam Phillips on the subject of writing psychoanalysis; Noreen O'Connor with the founder of the Women's Therapy Centre, Susie Orbach. Martin Sherman was interviewed by Alan Pope about his writing for theatre and Stephen Gee talked to Phyllida Lloyd about her production of 'The Ring' at the English National Opera.

 

A year ago we relaunched our Sunday Talks series. Speakers included Adam Philips, Clare Pajaczkowska and Mandy Merck and Lynne Segal. All the talks were well attended and we plan a further series in 2013.

 

Our London training in clinical psychoanalysis has grown over recent years and we now have a second 'site' in South West England thanks to a committed group of Site members living in Cornwall. The training in Truro is now well established and the South West group held its first conference, 'Nature Crisis' at The Eden Project. It explored what psychoanalysts have to say about the urgent questions around climate change and the environment. The Cornwall group holds regular public seminars, details of which are poted on the home page.

Papers for this conference are available in Issue 7 of Sitegeist. Issue 8 on psychoanalysis and poetry is also now available