BAPPS ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023

Censor, Persecutor or Protector?  The Superego and Supervision

Dr Christine Driver

The superego sometimes acts as a censor determining what can be consciously thought in order to manage anxiety and inhibit unwanted thoughts and affects entering consciousness. It can persecute us with ‘shoulds’ and ‘oughts’ but it can also protect through consideration of what is appropriate and ethical. 

Key to psychodynamic and psychoanalytic work is an observing ego and the capacity to reflect on conscious and unconscious dynamics.  Supervision frequently requires us to think the unthinkable and consider and reflect on material that might be shame inducing or provoke anxiety. However, this requires the ego to allow unconscious thoughts and feelings to surface and not be inhibited by the superego. As Britton comments (2003) ‘self-observation is an ego function and not a superego function’ (72).

In this talk and workshop, Christine Driver will explore the impact of the superego on supervisory and clinical work and examine its negative and positive impact on the development of a reflective and psychodynamic understanding of the client’s internal world.

Reference Britton, R. (2003) Sex, Death and the Superego. London, Karna

Biography:

Dr. Christine Driver is a Fellow of the Foundation for Counselling and Psychotherapy (FPC), a Training Analyst of the Society of Analytical Psychology (SAP) and a member of BAPPS. She was Director of Training and Clinical Services at WPF Therapy, and teaches, supervises and works in private practice. She has written The Self and the Quintessence: A Jungian Perspective (2020, Routledge) and co-written and co-edited Being and Relating in Psychotherapy (2013, Palgrave), Supervision and the Analytic Attitude (2005, Whurr), Supervising Psychotherapy (2002, Sage) and a number of papers. 

All BAPPS members are invited to attend the AGM between 10.00 to 11.00, in person or via Zoom

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

11.15 - 12.00 Registration

12.00 Conference opens

1.00 - 2.00 Lunch

14.00 Conference

16.00 Conference close

Ticket Information

In person, to include lunch:    Members: £55             Non-Members: £65         Retired Members £35

Online:                                    Members: £40            Non-Members: £45.        Retired Members £25

The conference will be recorded and available to view online via the BAPPS shop

 Booking closes Wednesday 11th October

Book directly via the button below, or email admin@supervision.org.uk, to register.

Our Conferences are open to Supervisors and experienced Therapists - BACP, UKCP, BPS or BPC qualified, or anyone interested in Psychoanalytic Supervision. BAPPS is an organisational member of UKCP and aims to promote education, training and the highest ethical standards of practice in supervising psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy.