Events
2017
Anderson, F. S. (2017). It Was Not Safe to Feel Angry: Disrupted Early Attachment and the Development of Chronic Pain in Later Life. Attachment, 11(3), 223-241.
October 28 and 29, 2017 for the 3rd Columbia Psychosomatic Conference in NYC
Conference Title: Advances in Psychotherapeutic Treatments for Persistent Somatic Distress: towards reversing effects of early interpersonal adversity on the body
From presentations on basic neuroscience and infant-caregiver interaction research to lectures on specific psychotherapy approaches particularly helpful for somatic symptom presentations, an international group of leading researchers and clinicians engaged the audience in conceptual explorations of this topic and discussions of specific clinical techniques. In addition, workshops on several psychotherapeutic approaches to treating somatic distress post early adversity helped both clinicians and researchers experienced up close what transpires in psychotherapy sessions with somatic symptom patients which can inform clinical practice as well as research.
Dr. Sommer Anderson contributed last Sunday October 29.
Clinical and Theoretical Paper Integrating Relational Psychoanalysis and Somatic Experiencing® to Treat Early Adversity: A clinical case illustration
Workshop Treating the Lingering Impact of Early Pain Memories: An experiential and didactic exploration
Dr. Anderson presented on May 20, 2017 at Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) Conference in Denver
Dr. Anderson presented at the Symposium: Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Chronic Pain by Enhancing Emotional Awareness on May 20, 2017. The symposium was organized by Richard Lane, MD.
The symposium begun with a presentation, "Effect of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Pain in Fibromyalgia," by Howard Schubiner, MD.
Dr. Anderson presented clinical material, "No Longer Afrai d to Feel: Illustrating how emotional awareness relieves chronic pain".
Dr. Lane concluded the panel by presenting, "A Brain-Based Model of How Promoting Emotional Awareness May Attenuate Chronic Pain".
2016
American Pain Society Conference: Neuroscience of Pain: Early Adversity, Mechanisms and Treatment. Invited Presentation: Growing Up Afraid: Early attachment disruption, emotional regulation, and somatic pain. October 15, 2016. New York City.
October 15, 2016 Neuroscience of Pain: Early Life Adversity, Mechanisms and Treatment, New York Marriott Downtown
Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI):
New York Chapter
In Conjunction with the NYU Postdoctoral Program
In Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
Presents
When My Patient Experiences Somatic Distress:
Techniques to Enhance Self-Regulation
Frances Sommer Anderson, PhD, SEP
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2016
Time: 10:30-12:30
Location: NYU Kimmel Center, Washington Square South, room 914
Now that we know that the therapist's and patient’s bodies have always been in the consulting room, how does contemporary research on the interpersonal neurobiology of trauma, pain and embodied communication inform our psychotherapy technique? What interventions are appropriate and effective if my patient arrives in a state of acute somatic distress or suddenly experiences severe bodily distress in the session? How do I understand and respond when my patient focuses primarily on somatic distress despite my attempts to explore and interpret within the usual psychodynamic framework?
In this experiential didactic workshop, Anderson will demonstrate how she integrates Somatic Experiencing® and Coherence Therapy to treat somatic distress in relational psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Leading the audience in silent guided processes and discussions that follow, she will identify techniques that can be used to help patients self-regulate distress when experiencing acute, episodic and chronic somatic concerns. The impact of early attachment bonds on the capacity to self-regulate distress and the implications for the treatment relationship will be discussed.
2015
Anderson, Frances, Sommer. "Pathways to Pain Relief—An Introduction1." Attachment: New Directions in Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy 9.1 (2015): 19-28.
Laura (pseudonym) and Frances Sommer Anderson (2015) My Other Yoga: A Patient's Journey On and Off the Mat. In Yoga Therapy:Theory and Practice (eds.) Ellen G. Horovitz & Staffan Elgelid. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Invited 22nd John Bowlby Keynote Lecture: "It Wasn't Safe to Feel Angry:" Early Attachment Disruptions and the Development of Chronic Pain in Later Life. The Bowlby Centre, London, England. April 25, 2015.
Experiencing the Pain Matrix® Workshop for The Bowlby Centre, London, England. April 26, 2015.
"No Matter How Hard I Try...!" Surmounting the Challenges in Treating Psychophysiologic Disorders. SIRPA Practitioner Training Course. London, England. April 26, 2015
2013
Anderson, Frances Sommer, and Eric Sherman. Pathways to Pain Relief. CreateSpace, 2013.
2012
When Stress Causes Pain: Innovative Treatments for Psychophysiologic Disorders New York City October 6, 2012.New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis & The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association (PPDA) The New York Academy of Medicine. Keynote Speaker: RAJA SELVAM, PhD
The psychoanalytic context for this groundbreaking conference was provided by Lewis Aron, PhD, ABPP, Director of the NYU Postdoctoral Program. Spyros Orfanos, PhD, ABPP, Clinic Director of the Postdoctoral Program, provided the closing summation.
Additional speakers were: David D. Clarke MD, Howard Schubiner MD, Rob Munger MA MS, Frances Sommer Anderson PhD SEP(Chair, Planning Committee), Eric Sherman PsyD (Co-Chair, Planning Committee), Sharone Bergner PhD, Mary-Joan Gerson PhD ABPP, Evelyn Rappaport PhD SEP, Peter P. Zafirides, MD and Alan Gordon LCSW.
2010
When Stress Causes Pain: Innovative Treatments for Mind-Body Disorders Los Angeles, March 28, 2010."Experiencing the Pain Matrix" & "A Treatment Approach Illustrated in "Ellen's Story: Psychic Elaboration of Musculoskeletal Pain."
2008
Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association/Division of Psychoanalysis (39), Boston, MA, August 14-17, 2008. "Exploring the Analyst's Bodily Response to Traumatic Narratives" on the panel Psychoanalysis at the Extremes of Human Experience.
Living With Medical Conditions Study Group at William Alanson White Institute, New York City, June 12, 2008. "Experiencing the Complexity of Somatic Pain."
28th Annual Spring Meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 12, 2008. "When the Analyst Changes Her Face: Speaking, and Not Speaking, About Plastic Surgery" on the Steering Committee Invited Roundtable Discussion: Just Ask Already! Talking About the Analyst's Physical Self.
Invited Experiential Demonstration at the 28th Annual Spring Meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 11, 2008. "Knowing What You Know, and Don't Want to Know, About Your Patient's Body"