The New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute presents /the Fourth Peter J. Blos Sr. Memorial Lecture: V is for Vendetta: Exploring the Interference Posed by a Sibling’s Chronic and Debilitating Medical Condition on an Adolescent’s Emerging Psychic Individuation with  John Tisdale, D.Min. Tuesday, April 14th, 2020  8:00 – 10:00 PM The Marianne & Nicholas Young Auditorium 247 East 82nd Street, NYC No charge. All are welcome. To register, click HERE, visit nypsi.org or call 212.879.6900

Peter Blos Sr. brought the developmental concept of an adolescent’s second individuation into the mainstream of psychoanalytic theorizing and discussion. He proposed this concept, among other things, as a 4th phase of psychosexual development propelling an adolescent toward the emergence of a more complex, rich, and, individualized identity as a sexually mature person. Blos Sr. emphasized the adolescent’s task involved revisiting their inherited identity first established as a pre-oedipal child in order to consolidate a new identity independent from the parents and embraced by the adolescent as his/her own. Typically, the primary focus of this concept has been on the vertical relationship between the parents and adolescent. In two decades of learning and practicing psychoanalysis, Dr. Tisdale has had what he has come to believe is a somewhat unique experience among practicing child and adolescent analysts – almost 70% of his analytic patients, and many more of the total number of his psychotherapy patients over the years, have had siblings with mental and/or medical conditions profoundly impacting their process of psychic individuation. Using close process vignettes from a three-time-a-week adolescent psychoanalysis, lasting three and one-half years, he will explore the influence of a sibling’s chronic medical condition on one adolescent’s psychic development, and specifically, the interference these circumstances posed to his subjective experience of owning for himself this developmental phase of emerging psychic second individuation.

2 CME/CE credits offered.

Sabina Preter, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair, Blos Lecture Committee

Articles for Reference:
1. Mitchell, J. (2013). Siblings: Thinking Theory. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 67:14-34.

2. Palacios-Boix, J. (2013). “Thou Shalt not Kill”: The Work of Juliet Mitchell on Siblings and the Horizontal Axis, Canadian J. Psychoanalysis., 21(1):160-169.

3. Ruiz, G. (2012). Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association., Panel Report 60(6):1289-1295.

4. Vivian, J.M. (2010). Siblings, Transference and Lateral Dimension of Psychic Life. Psychoanalytic Psychology., 22(1):8-26.

John Tisdale, D.Min. holds a B.A. from High Point University, a Master’s of Divinity degree from Duke University and a Doctorate of Ministry degree (D.Min.) in Pastoral Counseling from the Graduate Theological Foundation. He is an ordained United Methodist Minister and a child and adolescent psychoanalyst, graduating from the APsaA member, Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas. His first professional job was with the N.C. Juvenile Court. While at the N.C. Court, he took a leave of absence to attend the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School. Although tempted to pursue a career in professional baseball, Dr. Tisdale answered a higher calling and entered Duke Divinity School; after graduation, he pastored a local congregation for 6 years in rural N.C. and worked on licensing to practice psychotherapy full-time. During his 25-plus year career in clinical practice, he has worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals, a denominationally-sponsored counseling center, a private group practice, and a school-based practice. The last six years he served as the Associate Executive and Clinical Director of the Lucy Daniels Center, a non-profit therapeutic organization serving the social and emotional needs of children age birth to 12 years of age and their families. In September, 2019 he opened a private practice with two offices in Cary and Durham, N.C. Dr. Tisdale most recently presented a case at the 2019 Annual meeting of Association for Child Psychoanalysis in Miami entitled, “Salmon Falls, One Important Stop in a Latency Age Boy’s Quest to Find a Good Enough Defense!”

Educational Objectives: Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
1. identify at least two factors potentially interfering with an adolescence’s intrapsychic development when the adolescent has a sibling living with a chronic medical condition.
2. define the developmental concept of second individuation.
3. provide an example of how the developmental concept “second individuation” is expressed in one adolescent’s experience through the lens of a psychoanalysis.

Physicians: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of [2] AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Psychologists: New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education programs for psychologists. New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  DISCLOSURE: None of the planners or presenters of this CE program has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Social Workers: New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0317.

Persons with disabilities: The building is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator. Please notify the registrar in advance if you require accommodations.