Experiencing Bion

A workshop presented by Stephen Bloch

This Saturday morning workshop invites clinicians to enter Bion’s psychic landscape through a series of experiential exercises.

Bion’s work is often regarded as difficult to approach. By understanding his writings from within lived experience and Bion’s life itself, participants will be introduced to a way of understanding Bion’s contribution. Bion emphasized the importance, and difficulties, of remaining open to experience, which he called an act of psychoanalytic Faith. The exercises are experiments in this concept of psychoanalytic Faith. The workshop hopes to open participants to the experience of fire not merely to its description (to paraphrase the Bion scholar, P.C. Sandler). Two aspects will be focused upon: Firstly, the movement from raw beta elements to psychic digestion through alpha dream work; and secondly, the experience of O, in turbulence and releasement.

The course material draws on Bion’s autobiographical writings, experiments in reverie as developed by Antonino Ferro, and if time permits, excerpts from the incomplete film on Bion’s Life: “The Becoming Room”.The workshop will be of interest to those new to Bion’s work but also to those seeking a new perspective with which to engage the material.

MORE ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Stephen Bloch is a clinical psychologist and Jungian analyst in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a founding member of the Southern African Association of Jungian Analysts and has served on its Executive Committee, Assessment and Review, Ethics and Library Committees. Stephen has given training seminars on transference and countertransference, dream interpretation, Klein, Winnicott, Bion and Eigen, the psychoanalytic frame, music and psychoanalysis, embodiment, psychotherapy and the meditating patient. He has published papers and reviews and oo- edited with Paul Ashton MUSIC AND PSYCHE (Spring Publications, 2010), and with Loray Daws, a festschrift for Michael Eigen entitled LIVING MOMENTS: PAPERS IN HONOUR OF MICHAEL EIGEN (Karnac, 2015)

VENUE: CG Jung Centre, 87 Main Rd, Rosebank, Cape Town
DATE: Saturday 28th September 2019
COST: R800 – Including Refreshments
3 CEU’s – Level 1 (CPD: Under Application)

For catering purposes: We ask that Payment reach our account no later than Wednesday 25th September 2019 please.

BOOKING INFORMATION (REGISTERED CLINICIANS ONLY)

Email BOOKINGS to: saaja@mweb.co.za
Subject Line: Surname+Bion
ADVANCED BOOKING ESSENTIAL: SEATING LIMITED TO 10

BANKING DETAILS

STANDARD BANK. Account name: SAAJA. Account no: 072975059. Branch code: 025-009
Rondebosch. Beneficiary Ref: Surname + Bion
PLEASE NOTE: Cheque or Cash deposits are not accepted.
NB: No refund policy if bookings cancelled within 14 days of Workshop.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

09h30 – 10h00 Registration
10h00 – 11h30 Session 1
11h30 – 12h00 Tea/coffee and refreshments
12h00 – 14h00 Session 2

PLEASE NOTE: PARKING
Parking is an issue at the Jung Centre and we ask in consideration for our neighbours, that visitors please
park at the Baxter Theatre or along Woolsack Drive.