by Karen Stewart

Canberra is the National Capital of Australia. The surrounding regional areas are expansive, and our group includes regional New South Wales (NSW) as well as the State of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

2022 has seen us continue our studies with Affect Theory – a small group have been meeting monthly to read, learn from and critically relate to Ron Lee’s unpublished work titled Psychotherapy after Tomkins: the Evolution of Affect Theory. These workshops have been facilitated by Sandra Lauffenburger, and include readings by many Self Psychology and neuro-psycho-biology greats, including the original Tomkins Affect, Imagery & Consciousness, and many others. We have participated in experiential learning, and questioned and critically discussed the theory, readings and case studies. Discussions have been broad and deep, with one (from the 9) workshop remaining.

Workshop 1 in a series of 4 Somatic Self Psychology workshops was held in early April. The second is due in June 2022. Olivia Wilson and Sandra Lauffenburger, both experienced Somatic Psychotherapists and Self Psychologists, are facilitating these. The first workshop saw a group of psychotherapists and body workers immerse themselves in what Experience Near means in an embodied sense, and the varying depth of ideas around empathy and attunement. We participated in didactic learning about the shape and feel of these ideas from theorists and writers such as Geist, Kohut and others, as well as somatic exercises in intersubjectivity, affectivity, and inner somatic sensing of the different physical systems.

The CRSPC held its first Self Psychology Mini-conference in early 2021. The next is likely to be held in early 2023, setting up a bi-annual pattern. A request for Case study proposals has gone out, and remains current.

The first Informal Peer supervision (Intervision?) get-together, based on working within the Self Psychology and somatic psychotherapy theories, will be held soon. It will involve participants bringing some craft to do while sharing supper and discussion.

The CRSPC group is small, but passionate about how they work and continue to learn and grow. Demand is high for psychotherapists with this understanding and skill set, due to the real changes felt in the people who are able to access it.

For further information, email kkstewart42@gmail.com who may either respond directly or forward your query onto the right person to respond.

Karen Stewart

After 10 years in the Out of Home Care (OOHC) and education sectors, Karen began her clinical career in the community mental health sector in 2015 and in private practice in 2017. Karen has worked with people of all abilities who have experienced trauma and mental ill health, with offenders in the justice system, people in crisis due to family violence, and as an individual and couples therapist at Relationships Australia (RACR). Karen draws from a number of theoretical frameworks, including self psychology, somatic and feminist approaches, and uses systemic, experiential and emotion-focused approaches when working with adult intimate relationships.