Rituals, fears, and obsessional symptoms are not uncommon in childhood. Many children have an excessive need for reassurance, refuse to change their habits, or throw tantrums whenever something's not going as they'd like. How are we to understand them? How to treat them? What differential diagnoses are in order? From our own day-to-day clinical practice we will try to shed some light on these questions.

Suggested Readings Freud: From the History of an Infantile Neurosis (The “Wolf Man") (1918). Catherine Mathelin, Lacanian Psychotherapy with Children: The Broken Piano (1994, The Other Press).

Catherine Vanier practices psychoanalysis in Paris. She is a member of Espace Analytique, heads L’École Expérimentale de Bonneuil-sur-Marne, and is a faculty member of Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association. Besides many books in French, she has published in English (as Catherine Mathelin), Lacanian Psychotherapy with Children: The Broken Piano, and (as Catherine Vanier) Premature Birth: The Baby, the Doctor and the Psychoanalyst (1917, Karnac Press).

Location: HYBRID PRESENTATION: In-Person + Zoom
(for in-person): School of Visual Arts, 133 W. 21st Street, Room 403C, New York, NY
NOTE: Anyone wishing to attend in person must register by Thursday, May 12, 2022. Please note the building requires all visitors to show proof of vaccination and to wear masks inside the building. (Participation via Zoom will be as usual, with login details being emailed upon registration.)

Fee: $40; for students with ID: $10.
For annual fee members of Après-Coup as well as for the faculty and students of the School of Visual Arts, attendance is free.

Continuing Education
Two (2) CE credits will be granted to Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Psychoanalysts, and Licensed Psychologists who have registered, have documented evidence of attendance of the presentation, and complete the evaluation form. Upon completion of the evaluation form, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to all participants who comply with these requirements.

Social Workers: Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association 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-0597).

Licensed Psychoanalysts: Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts (#P-0044).

Licensed Psychologists: Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Licensed Psychologists as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0077).

Learning Objectives: After this presentation, participants will be able to:
1) Identify the function that Rituals, fears, and obsessional symptoms have during childhood.
2) Recognize the differential diagnoses that can be drawn from them.