The Scientific Program Committee is pleased to present Jean LaPlanche’s Work: Metapsychology and Its Relevance for Clinical Work Seminar led by Hélène Tessier
October 16, November 20, and December 11, 2026; January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 4, and July 2, 2027 3:00 – 5:00pm ET via Zoom 20 CEUs Available
This seminar focuses on Jean Laplanche’s work. It aims at enhancing the understanding of the metapsychological foundations of basic concepts in psychoanalysis. It also aims at underlining their importance for the therapeutic action of clinical psychoanalysis. Laplanche has developed a metapsychology of his own as a result of a rigorous discussion of Freud’s work and of the theories of some major post- Freudians. His work gives metapsychology a central place. The debate with other theories that Laplanche introduced is based on specific epistemological principles which gives Laplanche’s theory a special role in contemporary psychoanalysis. Therefore, his work offers a fruitful approach to understand the main questions raised by psychoanalysis. The seminar is divided in 10 sessions of 2 hours each. The seminar will cover the following aspects and will be referring to Laplanche’s writings.
1. What is metapsychology? How does it define the field of psychoanalysis and of clinical psychoanalysis? Are there bridges between psychoanalysis and other disciplines?
2. Sexuality in psychoanalysis: what is sexual in sexuality? What is the relation between sexuality and psychoanalysis? Is there a common definition of sexuality in psychoanalysis?
3. What is the unconscious? Why does it play a central role in psychoanalysis? Does it still occupy this place in contemporary psychoanalysis? Why are there different theories about the unconscious and its mode of action? What impact does it have on clinical psychoanalysis?
4. The Ego and the defense mechanisms: are they still important? Are the Ego and the Self equivalent?
5. Clinical Work and the psychoanalytic method. What are the main principles of this method? What is transference?
6. Metapsychology and psychoanalysis as a domain of knowledge: are there criteria to decide if one theory is more accurate than another, that it is scientifically true? Should we ask this question?
Presenter:
Hélène Tessier is a psychoanalyst member of The Canadian Psychoanalytic Society and of the International Psychoanalytic Association. She is also Professor Emerita of the Faculty of Philosophy and Human Sciences of Saint Paul University (Ottawa). She is the vice president of the Scientific Committee of the Fondation Jean Laplanche/Nouveaux Fondements pour la psychanalyse (Institut de France). She has published numerous papers on epistemology and psychoanalysis and on Jean Laplanche’s work. She is the author of “Rationalism and Emancipation in Psychanalysis: the Work of Jean Laplanche” and of a entitled “La psychanalyse américaine”. She is the editor of the “Vocabulaire de Laplanche”, recently published, in which she has written several entrées. She has presented many papers and conferences on Laplanche’s thought and epistemology in Europe and America
Program Fee: General: $600 CFS Members: $500 Candidates: $300
CFS Scientific Program Committee:
Cornelius Dufallo (Chair) • Baiyu Chen • Umi Chong • Jennifer Grant • Michael Krass • Kristin Lee • Jessica Reik • Janet Schiff
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:
1. Explain how metapsychology defines the field of psychoanalysis and of clinical psychoanalysis.
2. Discuss bridges between psychoanalysis and other disciplines, with regard to metapsychology.
3. Discuss the relation between sexuality and psychoanalysis, and whether there is a common definition of sexuality in psychoanalysis.
4. Discuss the central role of the unconscious in psychoanalysis, and the ways in which it still occupies this place in contemporary psychoanalysis.
5. Explain why are there different theories about the unconscious and its mode of action, and what impact this has on clinical psychoanalysis?
5. Discuss the Ego and the defense mechanisms, and why they are still important.
6. Explain the equivalency, or lack thereof, of the Ego and the Self.
7. Explain the main principles of the psychoanalytic method and the role of transference.
8. Discuss the criteria that can help us decide if one psychoanalytic theory is more accurate than another, and what may or may not be the benefits of asking this question.
9. Discuss the ways in which LaPlanche used Freudian theories to read and understand the writing of Freud.
10. Explain LaPlanche’s General Theory of Seduction.
References:
Scarfone, D. (2019). The Sexual and psychical reality. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 100(6), 1248–1255
Tessier, Hélène. (2017). The Sexual Unconscious and Sexuality in Psychoanalysis: Laplanche’s Theory of Generalized Seduction. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly. 83. 169-183. 10.1002/j.2167-4086.2014.00081.x.
Tessier, Hélène. (2018). The Freud-Bleuler Correspondence: French Edition. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 66. 569-578. 10.1177/0003065118780181.
Continuing Education Credits:
NY Social Workers: The PTI-CFS is recognized by the NYS Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0087
NY Psychoanalysts: The PTI-CFS is recognized by the NYS Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts #P-0021.
NY Licensed Psychologists: The PTI-CFS is recognized by the NYS Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provide of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0017.
Psychologists: The Contemporary Freudian Society is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The CFS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. (DC, MD and VA Psychologist licensing boards accept CE credits provided by an APA approved Sponsor. All other psychologists should check with their licensing boards.)
DC, MD and VA Social Workers: The Social Work Boards of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia will grant continuing education credits to social workers attending a program offered by an APA authorized sponsor.
CE credits will only be granted to participants with documented attendance of the entire program and completed online evaluation form. No partial credit will be offered. It is the responsibility of the participants seeking CE credits to comply with these requirements. Upon completion of this program and online evaluation form, participants will be granted CE credits.
Important Disclosure Information:
None of the planners and presenters of this program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.