Going Online in a Time of COVID19
Our friends and colleagues, we are going to have to get used to the new normal, that therapy sessions have to take new form. For many of us who have had years of experience providing therapy services in a more traditional face-to-face setting in the comforts of our own consult rooms, this is a time of anxiety and upheaval - for both ourselves and our clients. The time to consider how we can adapt is now.
Most of us who practice with strict boundaries and respect for the therapeutic frame, might have some struggle thinking about how best to transition our current caseload to teletherapy/telehealth video sessions. This is not just an issue of practical importance due to the concern of infection, but also a clinical question of how this might impact our psychotherapy sessions. As many of us might already experience, these changes in our therapy sessions impact interpersonal dynamics and how one might consciously or unconsciously perceive the move.
In collaboration with the Psychoanalytic Association of Singapore (PAS)
We have the pleasure of hosting, for the first time (for us and our larger community), a FREE 4-part series courtesy of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) where we can sit, watch and learn. Just add popcorn (or brekkie) and your choice of beverage. The series gives guidelines for switching to online therapy and analysis, the scope and probable problems of this mass crisis over time, and what to think about in teaching and supervising online.
Part 1: The Basics of Going Online for Therapy and Analysis
Part 2: Ethics and Practicalities of Going Online for Therapy and Analysis
Part 3: An Overview of the COVID Pandemic as a Mental Health Crisis
Part 4: Online Teaching and Supervision Basics
A Personal Message from Our Team
As a psychological practice, and as fellow therapists, we would like to keep ourselves going and thinking as a group and begin by anchoring ourselves. This would allow us to practice more ethically and provide a thinking space to stop reacting, but increase our reflective functioning where it matters. Think of it as being able to stretch our feet out and stay current with the issues. This is after all, for the sake of our clients and our larger therapeutic community. We thank you for being a part of the community.
Why watch it together?
As they say, we have strength in groups, but we also share in the intolerable anxieties of practicing in this day and age. We are not alone. We all share a wish for security; for things to be known and predictable. We can learn from Bion’s Experiences in Groups, to protect us from uncertainties and mysteries, if we wish. In the end, there are important aspects of being in a group that are very difficult to explain or put into words, like the dimensions of the universe that cannot be experienced directly by the senses. Perhaps we are like blind men who cannot grasp the enormity and complexity of what we cannot see. However, if we are able to tolerate our ignorance then perhaps we will be capable of having our own experiences in groups from which we might learn. Let’s do this together.
“The purest form of listening is to listen without memory or desire.”
Who can join in?
We think it’s great for students and practitioners alike.
It’s neither formal nor stressful, and you do not have to share your screen - we’re all in it to learn and let’s do so in the comfort of our homes/practices/offices.
When will it be held?
It will be run once-weekly on Wednesdays between 10am - 12pm (SGP Time). The dates are 15 April, 22 April, 29 April, and 6 May.
How do I join in?
We will be hosting via Zoom. No sensitive and private information will be shared so this is a viable medium. Here is the meeting invitation.
Join Zoom Meeting (Meeting ID: 154 593 350)
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/154593350?pwd=VXhWSS9kNVlnL0hraDlWbnZmanBOdz09
Password: telehealth
What’s the catch?
None! All that we ask is that we all respect the use of the channel to join in and “catch a movie”. You will be booted out if found to be abusive and inappropriate.
Otherwise, please enjoy yourself for what it’s worth.
What is the psychological mechanism of Projection? How can we understand and manage it?