Bion’s Search for Truth: Getting the Interpretation to the Right Address
**PACIFIC TIME**: November 7, 2026, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
All times listed are in Pacific Time (PT) unless otherwise noted. Registration closes at 4:30 PM PT the day before an event. Unfortunately, late registrations can not be accommodated.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- This program is being presented in person AND on Zoom.
- Pre-registration is required. You will receive confirmation and details by email.
- 2.75 CE/CME credits are offered for this program. Signature is required for CE/CME Credit.
- Contact Byrd at byrdb@n-c-p.org if you have questions.
NCP Presents:
Bion’s Search for Truth: Getting the Interpretation to the Right Address
NCP is privileged to present a morning with Annie Reiner, PhD, PsyD, LCSW guiding us with a fresh introduction to Wilford Bion’s clinical insights into optimizing an analytical state of mind.
Dr. Reiner will first present an orienting paper entitled, “Bion’s ‘O’: The Search for Truth in Psychoanalysis. Art, and Religion,” examining Bion’s central and most controversial concept of ‘O’ from multiple perspectives. After discussion and a short break, she will present a second, clinical, paper illuminating Bion’s idea of the “selected fact” which aids the clinician to focus intuitive attention on the most relevant factor in the session. Discovery of the selected fact develops clinical precision in making more specific and effective interpretations. Dr. Reiner demonstrates the similarities in the creative states of mind of artists, scientists, religious thinkers and psychoanalysts, using examples of their works and thoughts, and some of her own poems, all of which reflect the state of mind that Bion called ‘O’. She shares the experiences and clinical utility of this kind of attention, paradoxically based on relinquishing control.
Dr. Annie Reiner is a noted author and world-wide communicator of psychoanalytic ideas. She has written extensively about W.R. Bion’s complex ideas in an accessible way that does not compromise its depth. Respected psychoanalyst, Dr. James Grotstein, ranked Dr. Reiner “...high among Bion scholars.”
Learning Objectives:
As a result of attending this session, participants should be able to:
- Describe the role of Bion’s idea of maternal “reverie” in the development of thinking.
- Discuss the relationship of Bion’s early idea of “reverie” to his later concept of ‘O’ as a waking dream state.
- Discuss Bion’s idea of ‘O’ as the central “psychoanalytic point of view”.
- Describe how Matisse’s idea of “inherent truth” in Art is reflected in Bion’s concept of ‘O’.
- Describe the function of Bion’s idea of the “selected fact” in a clinical setting.
- Explain how Bion’s concept of the transcendent state of an infinite ‘O’ extends Freud’s idea of the Unconscious and theoretical orientation in their own practice
Presenters:
Moderator:
Thomas Brod, MD, is a member of the NCP Program Committee and Senior Faculty at the New Center for Psychoanalysis.
Coordinated by: Thomas Brod, MD
FEES:
NCP Members registration $100 | General registration $125 | Students $62.50
RECORDING:
This presentation will be recorded for internal use only. If you do not wish to appear in the recording, please turn your camera off.
CE/CME Credits:
"How do I get my CE/CME Credit?"
- Pre-Register below
- If you are registering for the first time you will receive a welcome email. You must follow the directions in this email to complete your registration in order to access your certificates.
- "Sign" in and "sign" out during the event (by typing your full name into the chat). This is how we record your attendance at the event.
- Wait 5-10 business days.
- Download your Certificate on the NCP website.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
PHYSICIANS: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and the New Center for Psychoanalysis. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The APsA CE Committee has reviewed the materials for accredited continuing education and has determined that this activity is not related to the product line of ineligible companies and therefore, the activity meets the exception outlined in Standard 3: ACCME's identification, mitigation and disclosure of relevant financial relationship. This activity does not have any known commercial support.
PSYCHOLOGISTS: The New Center for Psychoanalysis is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The New Center for Psychoanalysis maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists must report CE credits directly to MCEP using this document to verify attendance. Please note that a psychologist must attend the CE program in its entirety in order to receive credit.
SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE and FAMILY THERAPISTS (LCSW, LMFT, ASW, IMF, LEP, LPCC, PCCI): The New Center for Psychoanalysis offers continuing education via the organizations listed above whose requirements meet the course content requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (see 16 CCR section 1887.4.0 for General CE Course Content Requirements). Acceptance of the CE credits for this activity is at the discretion of the licensing board.