‘Maternal States of Mind’, Deborah BLESSING, May 30th 2014

Deborah Blessing
30 May 2014 Friday 20.00- 22.00

This presentation on maternal states of mind has two interconnected components: considering how the skills developed through the methodology of infant observation, Tavistock Method are particularly relevant for clinical work with pregnant women or new mothers, and the application of these capacities within a clinical case. A brief overview of infant observation will be offered along with a longer presentation of the struggles of one patient to become not only a biological mother, but a mother in her own mind. The theme of seeing and being seen—literally and metaphorically—are at the center of both components.

Deborah Blessing is social worker and psycoanalyst. She completed her training in National Institute of Psychotherapies. She worked in the Child and Family Department of Tavistock Clinic and was a member of the Team for Chidren Under Age 5. She is a permanenet staff as honorary senior child psychotherapist in Tavistock Clinic. She is a member of the program of observational studies in Washington School of Psychiatry. She is a trainer in Washington Center of Psychoanalysis, her main subjects are intimate care, psychoanalytic work, and psychoanalytic couple therapy. She is also co-leader of new horisons of writing with a psychoanalitic view. She has written articles about infant observation, eating disorders, and siblings. She continues to work in private practice in Washigton DC.

Participation: Open to everyone.
Admission fee: 60 L.
Members of PSike and students: 40 L.