PRESENTING ISSUES

Interviews with leading theorists on contemporary affairs in psychotherapy

Series 1. The Coronavirus Series

Holding the frame and sense of connectedness during the pandemic

In this series of interviews, Alice Waterfall asks psychotherapists and those working in the field of mental health about their experiences of clinical work during this time of global crisis. As both patients and practitioners attempt to manage unprecedented collective trauma, these conversations cover such issues as finding one’s way to a new therapeutic frame, regulating feelings in a virtual encounter, negotiating re-activated trauma and loss to techno-phobia and techno-tips. How can we create a sense of going-on-being in the therapeutic relationship, she asks, when there is such existential uncertainty?

Interviewees include Judith Anderson, Doris Brothers, Pierre Cachia, Roz Carroll, Janina Fisher Graham Music, Stephen Porges, Joy Schaverien and many more.

Dr Doris Brothers
In this conversation Dr Doris Brothers, based in New York, highlights how the uncertainty generated by the pandemic is that which lies at the very heart of trauma and which thrusts clients into traumata with little respite. Doris speaks of her experience working clinically in recent weeks whilst adapting to the new frame and her clients’ main concerns including their finances.
Click here to watch this interviews on our YouTube channel >>

Graham Music
In this conversation Dr Graham Music discusses his rapid adaptation to working online with his client group, he wonders how it is to work without the body in the room and to be able to see only the client’s neck upwards. Graham considers the risk of social isolation for those most vulnerable including children and the clients who may turn to their objects of addiction behind closed doors during these challenging times.
Click here to watch this interviews on our YouTube channel >>

Dr Stephen Porges
Stephen Porges highlights the importance of acknowledging that we are all currently experiencing chronic threat. Our intuitive human response when under threat is to look for a safe and trusted other with whom to co-regulate. However, this natural cycle is disrupted when we are isolating at home or working as a therapist online rather than face to face. Porges identifies ways to regulate and work with our clients as best we can at this time in history.
Click here to watch this interviews on our YouTube channel >>