The origins of Scientific Meetings at Western New England date back to Vienna in 1902 with the Wednesday Psychological Society. Much like those early gatherings, today’s speakers bring profound insights into critical issues in clinical psychoanalysis. Recent themes have included the traumatizing nature of everyday life, theoretical approaches to sex and gender, the developmental basis of creativity, neuroimaging of dyads, ethical considerations of care, and analytic neutrality. Held on Saturday afternoons throughout the year, these meetings aim to address the clinical and intellectual needs of our community while supporting the vital role of psychoanalysis in public discourse.
Notably, these gatherings benefit from the diverse and creative reflections of Western New England voices—from trainees to established and retired analysts—who offer remarkable discussions of the presented works. The beauty and aesthetic value of these meetings resonate with Homer’s belief that beauty is meant to address human anguish. To that end, Scientific Meetings ground the field in both research and praxis, enabling us to respond to evolving social and institutional needs, fostering change, repair, and constancy.
