SCREEN RELATIONS: The Limits of Computer-Mediated Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy(Link)
Karnac Books, London,
Apr 1, 2015
- ISBN 13 :9781782201441
- ISBN 10 :1782201440
Increased worldwide mobility and easy access to technology means that the use of technological mediation for treatment is being adopted rapidly and uncritically by Psychoanalysts and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists. Despite claims of functional equivalence between mediated and co-present treatments, there is scant research evidence to advance these assertions.
Can an effective therapeutic process occur without physical co-presence? What happens to screen-bound treatment when, as a patient said, there is no potential to “kiss or kick?” Our most intimate relationships, including that of analyst and patient, rely on a significant implicit non-verbal component carrying equal or possibly more weight than the explicit verbal component. How is this finely nuanced interchange affected by technologically-mediated communication?
This book draws on the fields of neuroscience, communication studies, infant observation, cognitive science and human/computer interaction to explore these questions. It finds common ground where these disparate disciplines intersect with psychoanalysis in their definitions of a sense of presence, upon which the sense of self and the experience of the other depends. This new data reveals surprising and non-intuitive elements, providing a rich knowledge base for better understanding how people experience screen relations based treatments.
Embedded throughout the book are the movingly clear voices of clinicians and patients themselves, describing their experiences using technology for treatment. Dr. Isaacs Russell, whose own clinical experience using technological mediation inspired her exploration of therapy on the digital frontier, pays particular attention to the specific gains and losses of mediated communication of which clinicians should be aware before undertaking technologically-mediated psychoanalysis or psychotherapy.
Reviews and Endorsements
'This book is not anti-technology. It is pro-psychoanalysis. Gillian Isaacs Russell comes up with a deeply humanistic, forward-looking book that does not deny the power of technology but insists that we use it to more thoroughly understand our human purposes. As an analyst or therapist, before you use Skype or FaceTime, read this. You’ll better understand the new human terrain on which you work.’
— Sherry Turkle, Director, MIT Initiative on Technology and Self
‘This is a pioneering work that gives a balanced, nuanced and comprehensive picture of how the screen affects therapeutic dialogues and makes a strong advocacy for the necessity of co-presence of two persons in the consulting room. It is a must-read for psychoanalysts and psychotherapists who find technologically mediated treatment necessary in their work with patients.’
-- Sverre Varvin, MD, PhD, past President of the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Society; Chair of International Psychoanalytical Association China Committee; Professor at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences
‘Gillian Isaacs Russell explores vast territory, including patients’ and therapists’ experiences, clinical theory, and intriguing research in cognitive neuroscience, information communication theory, and virtual reality. Her skilful explication and incisive analysis of how the technological medium affects our patients, ourselves, and the analytic process makes it readily apparent that simulated treatments have limits and consequences, and knowing this enables clinicians to make smart choices about whether and when to conduct such treatment. This very well-written book is essential for anyone who wants to think carefully about computer-mediated treatment.’
— Don Greif, PhD, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Contemporary Psychoanalysis; Faculty, William Alanson White Institute, New York
‘This well-written book is a must for analysts and therapists conducting therapy online or planning to do so. It contains many valuable insights into aspects of “the communicating cure”, which many of us tend to overlook in practice, including: aspects of embodied intersubjectivity such as shared physical space, shared temporality, moving to and from the consulting room, and, above all, “being in the presence of someone” as essential for becoming oneself.’
— Jon Sletvold, PsyD, Faculty, Training and Supervising Analyst, Norwegian Character Analytic Institute; author of The Embodied Analyst: From Freud and Reich to Relationality
‘Gillian Isaacs Russell raises searching questions that need considering by anyone concerned with the future of psychoanalytic therapy, and especially by those involved in the training of therapists. In its thoroughness and range, her book is a remarkable achievement. It needed to be written, and it needs to be read.’
— Michael Parsons, British Psychoanalytical Society; French Psychoanalytical Association
"One of the best Psychoanalysis books of all time" -- BookAuthority
- Click here to access a podcast interview of Gillian Isaacs Russell on Shrink Rap Radio and YouTube
- Click here to access a podcast interview on "Screen Relations" at New Books in Psychoanalysis
- Click here to access an interview on "Screen Relations" on The Guardian Tech Weekly Podcast
- Click here to access a podcast interview of Gillian Isaacs Russell by Nathalie Nahai on The Hive Podcast
- Click here to access Remote Session Guidelines for Periods of Restricted Travel
- Click here to access Emergency Conversion to Tele-treatment: Making it work
- Click here to access a podcast interview of Gillian Isaacs Russell by Nathalie Nahai ABSENCE, PRESENCE & HOW SCREEN TIME IS SHAPING OUR RELATIONAL LIVES
- Click here to access REMOTE WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC : A Q&A WITH GILLIAN ISAACS RUSSELL
- Click here to access REMOTE WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC: A SECOND Q&A WITH GILLIAN ISAACS RUSSELL
EVENTS
2021
Saturday, 24 April, 2021 Webinar
Teletherapy: From Pandemic Necessity to Possibilities of Reemergence, and into the Future
WPF Therapy, UK/4-7 pm London
For more information click HERE
Saturday, 30 January, 2021 Webinar
The Long Haul of Teletherapy in a Pandemic: Making it Work
New York State Society for Clinical Social Work Metropolitan Chapter and The Advanced Clinical Education Foundation of the NYSSCSW/ 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET
For more information click HERE
2020
Saturday 5 December, 2020 Webinar
The Long Haul of Teletherapy in a Pandemic: Making it Work
The Center for Psychoanalytic Studies-Texas/ 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Central Time
Visiting Teacher Program 2020-2021
For more information click HERE
Saturday 24 October, 2020 Webinar
The Long Haul of Teletherapy in a Pandemic: Making it Work
Toronto Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Toronto/10 a.m. ET
For more information click HERE
Saturday 10 October, 2020 Webinar
Treatment via Technology During the Pandemic: The Challenges of Maintaining Attunement
Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles/1 p.m. Pacific Time
Open to Public CME/CE credit available
For more information and registration click HERE
Saturday 26 September, 2020 Webinar
The Long Haul of Teletherapy in a Pandemic: Making it Work
Private Practice Colloquium, Massachusetts/10 a.m-1 p.m. EDT
CE's offered
For more information and registration click HERE
13-26 July, 2020 Webinar
Technology-Mediated Psychoanalysis During the Pandemic: Its Impact and How We Make It Work
IARPP
For members of IARRP
For more information click HERE
Saturday 11 July, 2020 Webinar
Technologically Mediated Psychoanalytic Treatment During the Pandemic: How it's Changed Us and How We Make it Work
British Psychotherapy Foundation/3 pm-6 pm BST
For members of BPF
For more information click Here
2019
Saturday, 23 November, 2019, San Francisco, California
Screen Relations: From Wishful Thinking to Research Informed Decisions
NCSPP
San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (SFCP)/1 p.m.
444 Natoma St., San Francisco, CA 90143
For further information click HERE
2018
Tuesday, 16 October, 2018, New York City, New York
Psychoanalysis in the Digital Age: A Panel Discussion
New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute/8 p.m.
247 East 82nd Street, NYC
For further information click HERE
Saturday, 15 September, 2018, Los Angeles, California
Screen Relations: From Wishful Thinking to Research Informed Decisions
Psychoanalytic Center of California/1 p.m.
New Center for Psychoanalysis Auditorium
2014 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90025
For further information click HERE
Saturday, 3 February, 2018, Atlanta, Georgia
Screen Relations: From Wishful Thinking to Research Informed Decisions
Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association/8:15 a.m.
Winter CME Meeting
The Whitley Buckhead Hotel
3434 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Screen-Based Treatments: Better Than Nothing? Routinely Good Enough? Functionally Equivalent?
Atlanta Psychoanalytic Society; Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute; Atlanta Foundation for Psychoanalysis/5 p.m.
Emory Brain Health Center Room 331
12 Executive Park Drive NE
Atlanta 30329
2017
Saturday, 21 January, 2017, New York, New York
Practice Building Today: Being in the Same Room? Electronically Mediated Treatment
Presenters: Rebecca Mair, Gillian Isaacs Russell; Moderator: Susan Flinders
Committee Sponsored Workshop/11:30 a.m.
APsaA 2017 National Meeting
Waldorf Astoria, New York
Sunday, 30 April, 2017, New York, New York
What's Special, Or Not, About Technologically-Mediated Treatments
Panel: Todd Essig, Gillian Isaacs Russell, Philip Rosenbaum
Liberty 3/ 8 a.m.
Division of Psychoanalysis (39), APA Spring Meeting
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
811 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street, New York
For further information click here: Division 39
Saturday, 24 June, 2017, London, UK
Providing Psychotherapy in a Digital Era - the relational and neurobiological implications
Confer live conference event/9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Speakers: Andrea Marzi, Gillian Isaacs Russell, Catherine Knibbs, Linda Cundy
NCVO, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL
For further information click here: Confer
2016
Saturday, 23 January, 2016, London, UK
Audiences with Authors
British Psychotherapy Foundation/ 11 a.m.
37 Mapesbury Rd., London, NW2 4HJ
For further information click here: BPF
Sunday, 24 January, 2016, London, UK
Do you use Skype or have a view about its use?Seminar on the Limits of Computer-mediated Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
The Association for Group and Individual Psychotherapy/2 p.m.
1 Fairbridge Road, London, N19 3EW
For further information click here: AGIP
Tuesday, 26 January, 2016, Bristol, UK
Screen Relations: Do Bodies Matter?
Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy/6:30 p.m.
11 Orchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5EH
Saturday, 9 April, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia
Crashing the Network: Psychoanalysis and Cyberspaces
Panel: Todd Essig, Stephen Hartman, Gillian Isaacs Russell, Ave Schwartz
Stephanie Speanburg, chair
East Paces/ 1 p.m.
Division of Psychoanalysis (39), APA Spring Meeting
The Westin Buckhead Hotel, 3391 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA, 30326
For further information click here: Division 39
2015
Thursday, 26 February, 2015, Annandale-on Hudson, NY
Screen Relations: Do Bodies Matter?
Campus Center, Weis Cinema/ 4 p.m.
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Friday, 10 April, 2015, Boulder, Colorado
Arts Going Retro in a Digital Age
UMC Center Ballroom/ 1 p.m.
67th Annual Conference on World Affairs
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
Friday, 24 April, 2015, San Francisco, CA
Screen Relations: The Limits of Computer-Mediated Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
Meet the Author/ The French Parlor/ 12 p.m.
Division of Psychoanalysis (39), APA Spring Meeting
San Francisco Palace Hotel, 2 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA
Friday, 1 May, 2015, Denver, CO
Screen Relations: The Limits of Computer-Mediated Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
Denver Psychoanalytic Society Lecture Series/ 7 p.m.
Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church (McCollum Room), 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
Tuesday, 30 June, 2015, Free Webinar
Screen Relations: A Stillpoint Exploration presented by the Zurich Lab
Online Discussion/ 7:30p.m. CEST; 6:30 p.m. BST; 1:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time
For more information and to join webinar click on: Stillpoint Spaces
To access a recording of the Webinar click here: Screen Relations Webinar
Friday, 24 July, 2015, Boston, MA
What's Lost in Screen Relations: Reclaiming Conversation for Consulting Rooms and Living Rooms
Panel: Sherry Turkle, Todd Essig, Gillian Isaacs Russell
Harbour View Ballroom 3/ 4 p.m.
International Psychoanalytic Association 49th Congress
Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA