Our Mission
The Indiana Society for Psychoanalytic Thought (ISPT) is a local chapter of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association. ISPT is a multi-disciplinary group dedicated to furthering the study and application of broad-based psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and the methods of psychoanalytic inquiry through the sponsorship of conferences, symposia, and workshops on clinical and cultural issues, theoretical papers, and ongoing research by ISPT members and recognized experts in the field.
Our Program Year
The 2023-2024 program year began September 11 with a timely presentation by noted Latina psychoanalyst Dr. Ruth Lijtmaer on “Ruptures in the continuity of the self: Where do I belong? Immigration as trauma”. We continue with program meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month through May, unless otherwise noted. Check the Upcoming Events for the most up to date meeting information. We typically meet in-person with an option to attend via Zoom. Our in-person meeting location, unless otherwise noted in Upcoming Events, will be on the Butler campus at:
Christian Theological Seminary Counseling Center
3rd Floor Meeting Room
1050 West 42nd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317.924.5205
- A commitment to psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychology involves continual self-reflection and examination of countertransference dynamics. Adding specific anti-racism and anti-white fragility training to our self-reflection toolbox enhances our ability to understand how racism presents for our patients and in the treatment room. As an introduction to being an anti-racist therapist, see: https://www.nicabm.com/
moving-from-cultural- competence-to-antiracism/. - Those among us who are white have a responsibility to examine our white privilege and how it affects our work with those not benefitting from such privilege, and to use whatever privilege we have to actively work to heal from internalized racism and to counter white supremacy and systemic racism in any form or shape. See this article on white privilege, color-blindness, and racism in psychotherapy: https://www.
psychotherapy.net/article/ racism-white-privilege- psychotherapy. See also: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo (Author). - We are also skilled listeners, and that is perhaps one of our most important tools. It is our responsibility to continue to listen and educate ourselves. Check out these recommended podcasts: https://
bellocollective.com/16- podcasts-that-confront-racism- in-america-f8f69baf529d. - Remember that racism is a public health crisis, including a mental health crisis. NAMI has published a list of mental health resources that specifically hold the culturally-induced traumas of the Black and Brown community in mind, along with important resources for self-care for clinicians of color among us: https://www.nami.org/
About-NAMI/NAMI-News/2020/ NAMI-s-Statement-On-Recent- Racist-Incidents-and-Mental- Health-Resources-for-African- Americans. - We are only as good for our patients to the extent that we also care for ourselves. Let’s be intentional each day in our self-care practices. Check out these resources and videos on self-compassion: https://self-
compassion.org/category/ exercises/#exercises and https ://self-compassion.org/videos/ . The following article on black mental health matters offers a number of resources for Black and Brown clinicians among us: https://www. goodmorningamerica.com/ wellness/story/black-mental- health-matters-cope-time- social-injustice-71077759.