PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD ON A THURSDAY NIGHT

2 CE Credits

Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 is a film created from more than 20 hours of interviews between the film's director, Frank Stiefel, and its protagonist, Mindy Alper. Mindy is a 57-year-old artist who channels her inner anxiety, depression, trauma and other demons into vivid drawings and large-scale papier-mâché sculptures. She has suffered through electro-shock therapy, multiple commitments to mental institutions and a 10-year period without speech. Her only consistent means of communicating has been to channel her hyper self-awareness into drawings and sculpture of powerful psychological clarity. This program also provides a psychoanalytic perspective on thought disorder and other non-normo-typical psychiatric conditions.

Learning Objectives

As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to: 

• Describe ways in which art enhances and even reforms the ego of the artist as pre-verbal experiences are processed through newly created visual mediums
• Discuss the role and relevance of metaphor, symbolization, and symbolic equation in the work of Mindy Alper, and in her understanding of her life experience 
• Demonstrate the various meanings of touch in the psyche of this particular artist, and the transformative powers of working in tactile, plastic-clay media

Robin Jacobs, LCSW, is a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist in private practice in Westwood, where she works with adults and early adults. She is a graduate of LAPSI/NCP, where she is on the faculty. She is interested in a broad range of psychoanalytic thinking, especially in children and development. She has worked as an artist and studied architecture.

Jill Lummus, PsyD, an advanced candidate at the New Center for Psychoanalysis (NCP), is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Beverly Hills. She is responsible for teaching and training the doctoral students at Airport Marina Counseling Service. At NCP, she is also on the faculty of the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program, teaching courses in gender & sexuality, as well as psychosis. She is the first recipient of the Elyn Saks scholarship for the study of psychosis and psychotic states of mind. 

Aimee Martinez, PsyD, is a second-year Clinical Associate at NCP, has a private practice in Century City, and acts as the Director of Clinical Relations for Wright Institute Los Angeles. In addition to her work as a psychologist, she promotes and brings exposure to Cuban artists through unique travel opportunities, pop-up shows in Los Angeles, and private art advising. 

Target audience: Open to the public but mainly for mental health professionals

Level: Every Level

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME/CE program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

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 the 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 the maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PSYCHOLOGISTS: The New Center for Psychoanalysis is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. New Center for Psychoanalysis maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Full attendance is required for psychologists to receive credit; partial credit may not be awarded based on APA guidelines. For the psychologists’ records, certificates of attendance are provided at the completion of the course.

SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS (LCSW, LMFT, ASW, IMF, LEP, LPCC, PCCI) The New Center for Psychoanalysis is a continuing education provider that has been approved by the American Psychological Association, a California Board of Behavioral Sciences recognized approval agency.

REGISTERED NURSES: The New Center for Psychoanalysis is an accredited provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (Provider #CEP1112). Registered Nurses may claim only the actual number of hours spent in the educational activity for credit.