The opening lines of Lucille Clifton’s poem came to mind as I began this letter: “I’m running into the New Year”. Running is the operative word – full of energy and promise. It seems a good start for 2023 and CIPS with a theme for the year: Finding Community in Turbulent Times – coined by NewsBriefs editor Jack Ringel. In this message, I’ll focus on the ways that CIPS is embodying community building.

About the New Website

Most emblematic of community building is the launching of our new website. The new website, contemporary and dynamic, is reflective of CIPS Collaborative spirit with the animated icon of each member society on just about every page.

Perhaps the aspect of designing the website that proved both most daunting and creative was a decision about the artwork. The website team wanted images that reflected a change from a predominantly Eurocentric to a more diverse one. Diana Daimwood, CIPS’ Administrator, made the inspired suggestion that we approach Fountain House highlighting mental illness as an often overlooked form of diversity. Fountain House, founded in 1948, provides an environment where artists living with mental illness can express their creative visions and exhibit their work.

Fountain House generously negotiated the use of work from their community to enrich ours. They sponsor exhibitions several times a year. 

Here is the link to learn more and support the project https://www.fountainhouse.org/about

In addition to the Fountain House artists, many thanks to the website team: Diana Daimwood, Susan Light, Drew Tillotson, Matthew Von Unwerth and especially to our intrepid designer Mafe Izaguirre.

About NewsBriefs

Closely related to the linking function of the website is the NewsBriefs. I am delighted to let you know that Jack Ringel has accepted the position of NewsBriefs editor. Jack, an analyst in training at NPSI, has a dual passion for psychoanalysis and writing, an ideal marriage for an editor.

About a National Faculty Data Base

A community project that I want to describe is one that’s still embryonic yet has garnered considerable enthusiasm.

Many societies are having difficulty staffing courses despite the considerable talent bank within CIPS. The Board has begun developing the idea of a Faculty exchange/database that would allow all CIPS faculties, who want to be included, to collaborate in sharing teachers. As a first step in collaboration, we will begin by convening a meeting of those responsible for staffing at each member institute.

About Diversity

Many CIPS members participated in the Holmes Commission Survey on racial equality in American Psychoanalysis. The initial bulletin from the Commission has just been published and circulated to all CIPS members. The bulletin touches on all aspects of training, serving as a template to examine the many and nuanced manifestations of racism in our programs.

Because of the importance of this project, I’m including the link again tfaison@apsa.org

About Shared Scholarship

The educational and scholarly pursuits of our member has always been another facet of CIPS as a community. We began the year with Nancy Wolfe’s well received seminar “Listening to Bion: Clinical Seminars in Brazil.“

On February 25th, Caron Harrang and Drew Tillotson will present “Body to Body: Speaking to the Body in Terms the Body Can Understand.” The presentation is based on a chapter from their Gravada Award-winning book Body as Psychoanalytic Object: Application from Winnicott to Bion and Beyond.

In March, Megan Rundel will present “Psychedelics 101: What Psychoanalysts Need to Know.” Her article Psychedelic Psychoanalysis: Transformation of the Self appeared in the November 2022 issue of Psychoanalytic Dialogues.