“When you have analytic training, the analytic attitude is internalized and you need to fit and keep it as well as being aware of when you lose it. As a result of this loss you will be receiving a sign from the countertransference. This is the motivation and passion for psychoanalysis.”
Virginia Ungar, MD
Buenos Aires
Episode Description:
Harvey Schwartz welcomes Dr. Virginia Ungar, who is a training analyst at the Buenos Aires Psychoanalytic Association where she lives and practices. Dr. Ungar specializes in child and adolescent analysis and is the former chair of the IPA’s Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis committee and of the Committee for Integrative Training. In 2016 she was awarded the Platinum Konex Award for Psychoanalysis. She currently serves as the President of the International Psychoanalytic Association.
In today’s episode, Dr. Virginia Ungar shares how it is for psychoanalysts to move from an in-person to an online experience. She describes her personal experience of these changes, her clinical work and most importantly her leadership role in helping the international psychoanalytic community weather this difficult time.
Key Takeaways:
[5:55] Dr. Virginia Ungar talks about the current situation in Buenos Aires.
[9:53] The transition in Buenos Aires from in-person to online sessions.
[13:42] All the psychoanalytic associations in Argentina started offering online services.
[15:19] Scientific meetings are held every week by Zoom.
[16:40] Dr. Virginia Ungar prefers to work on Zoom.
[17:36] The age as a factor for the adaptation to the virtual sessions.
[19:15] The challenge of the visual aspect.
[21:03] The absence of the physical presence of the patient is draining.
[23:15] All our inner lives are under threat.
[25:11] How does it feel to hold up the IPA?
[26:40] The IPA website is offering a section called “Stay connected COVID-19”.
[29:50] What sustains Dr. Ungar during these times of crisis?
Mentioned in This Episode
IPA Off the Couch – www.ipaoffthecouch.org
IPA Stay Connected
Dear Guillermo,
Many thanks for your comments. I’ve studied the concept of analytic attitude and found it to be a key issue both in clinical and technical psychoanalysis. During these terrible times of the pandemic when we are working online it is important to keep this notion close to us
A very interesting episode. It helps a lot to understand what is happening by the change from an in-person to online sessions.
How to keep the analytic attitude and the focus on the patient’s inner world are good points to consider.