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Adolescence

Abortion, Rape and Domestic Violence in the HBO Drama “Big Little Lies”


I am on my way to the Annual Training in Lacanian Psychoanalysis in Quebec City, Canada, lead by the teaching analysts at the Freudian School of Quebec. I have a copy of “Big Little Lies” in my carry-on and my memories from watching the HBO Series last summer. The topics of the feminine, the masculine, women and motherhood have been recurring issues that the School has examined, along with the main topics discussed such as “Transference...

Acting out

School Violence and Sexual Assault on Men: #MeToo Movement & “13 Reasons Why” Season 2


It has taken me some time since the first blog post on 13 Reasons Why to get to the second, and for a good reason. What I am about to talk about makes me cringe on the inside (alert, this blog posts contains spoilers for the series 13 Reason Why and may be triggering to those, who have a history of sexual violence in their past). I have heard stories similar to these...

Boundaries

The Function of the Father in Psychoanalysis

  

The question of fatherhood is an important one not only for the individual and for psychoanalysis but for our society as a whole. In times when traditional family structures are changing and parenthood is no longer restricted to a man and a woman per se, the role of the father needs to be revisited. I just finished reading Michelle Obama's book "Becoming" and she has some beautiful examples of fatherhood -  the role her father played...

Addiction

Coping with Grief and Loss in the Movie “Wild”

 It's been awhile since this movie came out but I wanted to draw your attention back to it as Reese Witherspoons' activism and recent work has been truly inspiring for all women. I admire her work and the efforts she puts in raising awareness around women's issues, including the Time's Up movement and how women are portrayed in the film industry.

I still plan on getting to Big Little Lies but for now, let's look at "Wild,...

Art

When Words Are Not Enough: Coping Through Visual Arts

All images courtesy of

When words are not enough to express what’s working within the human body and soul, psychoanalysis urges us to find alternative ways to express ourselves. As a psychoanalytically oriented clinican, I am often put in a position to listen to the unspoken and to find ways to put it into words. This may sound somwhat enigmatic but it is almost like telepathy of sorts - when a clinican is...

General

The #MeToo Movement and “The Tale”: Lessons From a Real Story

The HBO original motion picture “The Tale” tells the real life story of director Jennifer Fox, who experienced sexual abuse as a 13-year-old girl. In the film, Jennifer is an accomplished journalist and professor in a committed relationship, and yet struggles with commitment. She’s been engaged for over two years and we see her mother comment on her inability to tie the knot and marry her boyfriend of 10 years. I’ve written elsewhere on the impact...

Acting out

The #MeToo Movement and “13 Reasons Why”: 4 Lessons About Sexual Assault


I must admit - it has been hard watching the news over the past several months and witnessing the development of a movement I feel a part of because of the people I see in my clinical practice, both children and adults, who have experienced sexual violence or other forms of traumatic experience.

What’s even harder is seeing the lack of legal repercussions for those, who committed these crimes, and the sense of helplessness that this triggers in...

Acting out

The #Me Too Movement and Popular TV Series: From “13 Reasons Why” to “Sharp Objects”


I have been a silent witness to the #Me Too and #Time's Up movements, watching women and men come forward with their stories with both admiration and sorrow. I admire their strength for speaking up and I am sad for the sheer vastness of people, who have been victims of sexual violence. It was about time we face this problem as a society and do something about it. Listen to the numbers:

One in five Americans has...

Acting out

11 Common Symptoms Experienced by Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse


Recognizing common symptoms of childhood sexual abuse can help parents, caregivers, teachers, social workers, counselors and childcare staff alert the appropriate authorities and take proper steps to protect the welfare and safety of our children. It is far too often that I hear stories of adults, who fail to recognize that something is wrong with their child and attribute concerning changes in their kids’ behavior to temperament, age or other misguided explanations.

Because of this, I want...