Depth Counseling Blog

The Doctor Debate: Still Talking About Titles

Flora Lazar, PhD LCSW
The American Psychoanalyst
Volume 55, No 2, Spring/Summer 2021

In this article for The American Psychoanalyst, Flora Lazar revisits a sensitive topic in psychoanalytic history — what is the necessary academic preparation for training/practice in psychoanalysis? She traces the history and controversy about degrees in the field and argues, from a self-psychological perspective, that degrees may have more meaning to clients/patients than to clinicians.

Statement on Adam Toledo / Declaración sobre Adam Toledo

The shooting of Adam Toledo brings to debate the living conditions of people of Color, Latino origin, and other minorities in the city of Chicago, and the poor response by the authorities to address and improve conditions in these areas. We urge meaningful actions that would save lives.

El tiroteo de Adam Toledo trae a debate las condiciones de vida de personas de color, de origen latino, y otras minorías en la ciudad de Chicago, y la pobre respuesta por parte de las autoridades para atender y mejorar las condiciones en estas areas. Exhortamos por qué se realicen acciones que salven vidas.

Statement on the Racial Violence in Atlanta

Since the start of the pandemic, Asians have seen a rise in bullying, harassment, and hate crimes, often targeted toward the most vulnerable members of the community. The latest deadly hate crime in Atlanta is yet another culmination of racism, xenophobia, and misogyny. We stand in solidarity with the Asian community and remain steadfast in denouncing all forms of white supremacy.

SEMINAR: The Individuated ‘Dividual’ or What is Culture Good For?

JUNE 4, 2021 | 6:00–7:30pm CST

Depth Counseling’s first live supervision seminar was presented in partnership with the Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts at the University of Chicago, and Yellowbrick Consultation and Treatment Center as part of the 2021 Weissbourd Dialogues. This seminar explored the emotional world of a first-generation Indian American as he struggles with cultural expectations of personhood that differ from the normative American conceptions of individuality. Case presented by Sean M. Dowdy, PhD, with clinical supervision by Usha Tummala-Narra, PhD.

Black Girls Matter

Emily Esquivel, MA LPC

“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” —Malcom X

Young Black girls are overpoliced and under protected. The brutal treatment of Black girls and women is an ignored epidemic we must address.

Jenna White, MA LCPC discusses body shame on Polemic Nation

Javier Luna, the creator of the podcast “Polemic Nation,” recently sat down with Jenna White, LCPC to discuss her blog post about body shame, the culture of body shaming and how its micro and macro aggressions directly affect our perceptions of our bodies. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music

Statement on Anjanette Young, LCSW

As members of the mental health community we stand in solidarity with Anjanette Young, and call for restorative justice from CPD and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. We affirm our commitment to BIPOC and commit to building an organization that strives for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Depth Counseling denounces all forms of systemic oppression. We are re-envisioning group practice so that we can dismantle oppressive systems and practices in psychoanalysis and in our community more broadly.

Narcissism: Heinz Kohut’s Thoughts on Self-Love

Jessica Ngiam, AM

Have you been called a narcissist? Do you think that someone in your life may be a narcissist? What if someone told you that narcissism plays a valuable role in your feeling lovable, confident, and whole, and in your overall functioning in life? Jessica Ngiam explores the thoughts of Heinz Kohut, the founder of self psychology, on the importance of narcissism in the development of the self, and what could happen when the caregiving experience during childhood isn’t good enough.

Confessions of a Teletherapy Clinician

Flora Lazar, PhD LCSW

In their eagerness to return to a semblance of normality after COVID, many psychoanalytic clinicians have treated teletherapy as a crisis improvisation not unlike factory women did in World War II. Flora Lazar offers a candid assessment of the benefits of teletherapy and argues that the benefits of these adaptations may have long-term benefits to psychoanalysis—benefits that may result in some of the most serious challenges to date about the use of the iconic psychoanalytic couch.