Welcoming Remarks*

A warm welcome to all of you. It is a pleasure to see that so many are interested in hearing what psychoanalytic clinicians from different theoretical persuasions consider in thinking about working developmentally in their consulting rooms. At a time when all too many are focused on difference, both in our field and in the world, it is a particular treat to find there is a topic that unites us.

Most psychoanalysts think of themselves as working with a developmental model of some kind. What we will hear today is a set of brief presentations that focus on how each of our panelists incorporate this point of view into their work.

In organizing this meeting, I must confess to having a secret wish. When Kuhn (1962) wrote his ground-breaking treatise on the philosophy of science, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, he noted that paradigmatic shift was preceded by chaos and disagreement. As psychoanalysts, we have had a few decades of divisiveness, with those from different points of view claiming a higher degree of correctness. It is my deep belief that it is more than time for us to come together—to speak with each other—and to find our shared paradigm. Thinking developmentally may well be that paradigm. If we can come together more as a field, perhaps we will be able to think more deeply about the problems that beset our society and much of the world currently.

Our day is structured to allow for the fullest participation possible for all who are here. The formal presentations are 15 minutes, with the panelists having some time to react to each other, then the floor will be opened up for audience discussion. Our lunch break is designed to allow all who are here to speak with one another about the topic. Each table will have a facilitator to aid in this process. We hope and planned for real exchange.

On behalf of The Contemporary Freudian Society and The Contemporary Freudian Track of The New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, thank you for joining us!