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Finding Connection and Hope: Upcoming Discussion Groups on Trauma

Dear NCP Community,

The recent wildfires in Southern California have ignited more than flames; they have sparked a wave of multiple traumatic events that deeply affect our lives. The disruption of the familiar, profound losses, uncertainty about the future, and the deep need to rediscover hope are challenges that weigh heavily on both survivors and those who support them.

In response to this shared crisis, the IPA Committee for Psychoanalytic Assistance in International Crises and Emergencies (PACE) has offered assistance.Together, we are preparing a series of Work Discussion Groups (WDG) and supervisions to address the psychological toll of these unfortunate events. These sessions will provide a structured, reflective space for therapists to explore how trauma impacts our community, our patients, and ourselves. 

Why are WDGs important?

Trauma can collapse the boundary between external realities and internal fears, leaving individuals overwhelmed and disconnected from meaning. These reflective spaces will support therapists in moving from feelings of disorientation and helplessness to becoming facilitators of meaning. They will help us and our patients navigate losses, face uncertainty, and rebuild the capacity for thinking and hope. Professionals working with collective trauma often struggle with their dissociative responses, which can hinder their ability to process traumatic narratives and understand their patients' experiences. Engaging in reflective practices and maintaining an external, containing presence is critical to processing traumatic experiences.

While the road to healing is neither simple nor immediate, this initiative seeks to create spaces where we can confront these challenges together—both for those we support and for ourselves.

Details on scheduling and participation will follow soon. We look forward to this opportunity to come together, reflect, and find ways to bring light into a moment of darkness.

With care,

Luis A. Nagy, PhD

NCP President-Elect