Editorial

The unconscious psyche and its fabrication in Aotearoa New Zealand

  • John O'Connor

Abstract

In a paper I presented at our Association’s recent Conference I suggested that “psyche is the socio-cultural writ small, and the socio-cultural is psyche writ large”. In offering this perspective, my intention was to gesture to the possibility of a dialectic concerning the ways in which the intrapsychic and unconscious nature of psyche interacts with the wider sociocultural context within which it emerges, and that this dialectic is central to the analytic and psychotherapeutic task. It is with this central dialectic in mind that, with great appreciation for the work done by my predecessors in building our associative community of psychotherapists here in Aotearoa New Zealand, I take up the role of President of our Association for the next two years. In doing so I want to express my tremendous gratitude for the creativity and potency of recent Past-Presidents, including my dear friend, Gabriela Mercado, who undertook the role with such energy, warmth and intelligence; Lynne Holdem, who poured so much of her creative energy into reigniting opportunities for us to think and grapple together with the challenges of psychotherapy in contemporary times; Sean Manning who with love and determination, stepped in at short notice when Gabriela took some time-out for family reasons; and to all those Presidents who have preceded me, from Maurice Bevan-Brown in 1947, onwards. As I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before, I bring my mind to the many challenges which we all face, as psychotherapists, and as citizens of this country and this world, in challenging contemporary times.

Author Biography

John O'Connor

John O’Connor is a registered psychotherapist (PBANZ), accredited Jungian analyst (ANZSJA), and NZAC counsellor, and has worked in clinical practice for over 35 years. He has extensive clinical experience, particularly in working with patients with severe trauma histories, in providing group psychotherapy and clinical supervision, and in working cross culturally. He is a former Director of Youthline Counselling Service (Auckland) and the Human Development and Training Institute (HDT). He also formerly worked at Segar House (which is part of ADHB Mental Health Services) and was a founding member of the therapeutic team at Segar which developed a residential treatment service (currently operating as a day programme) for patients with personality disorder diagnoses. He worked as a lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) within the Psychotherapy Discipline between 1999 and 2019 and was formerly Programme Leader of the Master of Psychotherapy (adult programme) at AUT. He is the current Chair of the Association of Psychotherapists Aotearoa New Zealand (APANZ) Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) psychotherapy training pathway, is co-editor of Ata: Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand, and is the current President of APANZ. John currently conducts a private practice in Mangere Bridge. He is undertaking his PhD exploring the discourses underpinning the making possible of psychotherapy as a clinical practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Phone 021 899 261. Email: johnnygj@xtra.co.nz

Published
2024-12-02
How to Cite
O’Connor, J. (2024). Editorial: The unconscious psyche and its fabrication in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ata: Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand, 27(1), 7-11. https://doi.org/10.24135/ajpanz.2024.01