Therapeutic Uses of Photography: An Experiential Seminar March 31, 2018

I would like to personally invite the creative art therapy and psychoanalytic communities to attend a unique seminar that will explore the uses of photography within the depth-oriented mode of psychoanalytic treatment. The field of neuroscience has been becoming increasingly interested in what we, at the Institute for Expressive Analysis, as expressive analysts, have known for years: unconscious material is communicated through sensory motor forms of expression. 'Implicit feelings and memory' (unconscious by definition) are first experienced during periods of brain development prior to the development of cognitive processes thus providing a powerful connection between visual communication and early, formative emotional experiences. This Seminar will explore the power of visual communication, through photographic images and demonstrate the application of this process and technology within psychodynamic treatment. Participants are encouraged to bring disposable photographs of themselves at different ages, family and friends, to use during the experiential portion of this seminar. Some basic art supplies will be provided but you are also encouraged to bring your own unique art materials of choice.

The event will be hosted by the Institute for Expressive Analysis, Saturday March 31, at the Greenwich House, 27 Barrow Street, 4th Floor, NYC 10014

Please be advised that pre-registration is required and 2 CEs will be offered for LPs. For more detailed information and to register please go to: 

https://www.ieanyc.org/?page_id=121 . Space may be limited so register early.

Dr. Robert Irwin Wolf, President

The Institute for Expressive Analysis

Senior Member, NPAP

New Article published in The Psychoanalytic Review

A MIND’S EYE VIEW: Processing Psychoanalytic Treatment Through Artwork, 

by Professor Robert Irwin Wolf

While visual images have often been used in clinical assessments and diagnosis, this paper will explore how we may now utilize their unique capabilities to communicate unconscious, primary process material, to monitor and enhance ongoing long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy within the framework of expressive analysis. This paper presents several clinical vignettes that illustrate this monitoring process and demonstrates how the clinical work can be deepened with the exposure and integration of creative images as the patient and analyst process these visual metaphors within the expressive analytic session. A variety of sensory motor systems and perceptions are monitored and explored. These examples will follow the expressive analytic model, clearly focusing on transference and resistance, while also bringing in more contemporary life issues through visual metaphors

This paper is particularly important as it demonstrates how expressive art and 'implicit', nonverbal elements of sensory motor communication, can be used to receive and understand material that deepens the ongoing psychoanalytic process, providing a theoretical bridge between expressive art therapy and expressive analysis.

A full copy can be found under 'Professional Vitae/Publications'