April 2024, United States
Clinical Study Days is the annual clinical conference of Lacanian Compass, the group of the New Lacanian School in the United States. To give a taste of the work during this conference which focused on case presentation of neurosis, we feature the impressions from three members of the New Lacanian School in America.
On April 5 and 6, we had the opportunity to attend the clinical conference “Singularities in Neurosis: Transference and Interpretation”, an initiative from Lacanian Compass. It took place in Fort Lauderdale and counted on the presence of Laurent Dupont, member of the École de la cause Freudienne, member and secretary of the World Association of Psychoanalysis (WAP), Jorge Assef member of the WAP, the Escuela de la Orientación Lacaniana (EOL), and member of the New Lacanian School (NLS).
During this event, I had the opportunity to listen and to present a case related to neurotic symptoms. I noticed that in our contemporary clinic the question of transference in neurosis relates to a superego imposing jouissance that sometimes alienates subjects from their desires. The imperative Enjoy! seems to be a common trait. The question is how to negotiate with this superego to establish transference with analysands, inviting them to explore their symptoms, singularities, and modes of jouissance.
Renata Teixeira – Miami, Florida
More than an opportunity to meet colleagues in person and strengthen our ties to the School, Clinical Study Days gathered a set of people from different parts of the United States who shared an interest in the Lacanian orientation.
The case presentations facilitated by guest speaker Laurent Dupont and enriched by presentations from Christiane Alberti (President of the WAP) and Daniel Roy (President of the New Lacanain School) offered an opportunity to think about the theme of the conference: singularities in neurosis, transference and interpretation according to different moments of Lacan’s teaching. They also deepened questions about the construction of a clinical case.
The presentation of work from cartels followed by a discussion on clinical supervision by Dupont and Assef produced waves of enthusiasm. They seemed to transmit something of the real that orients our clinical practice and formation, which is always singular.
Maurien Caron – Houston, Texas
Floridian sun greeted us at Clinical Study Days 16, where we convened in a charming, idiosyncratic theatre to discuss clinical cases, cartel work, and the topics of singularity, neurosis, transference, and interpretation. Laurent Dupont fastidiously commented on the work of each analyst presenting a case. The event was also animated by the newest member of Lacanian Compass, and Analyst of the School, Jorge Assef. With a presentation by Christiane Alberti and an announcement about the upcoming Congress of the New Lacanian School in Dublin, by Daniel Roy, the conference manifested the School in the presence of bodies and through the enunciations of the speakers.
Two aspects resonated for me. First was the presence of youth, not as a matter of age, but of desire; many newer associates came and enlivened the experience during the breaks and reception. Members who have been working in Lacanian Compass for years were impacted by their presence, reminding us once again that the analytic discourse is always a matter of “becoming”, so long as the group is open, and hears the effects.
Jeff Erbe – New York City, New York
