Welcome to NYU's Postdoctoral Program! The Relational Orientation faculty hopes that you find a personal and theoretical home here, one in which your own professional development can deepen and flourish.
The Relational Turn in psychoanalysis began with a move away from the emphasis on the role of endogenous drives and "one person" psychologies toward the study of the interpenetration of intrapsychic and Relational influences in and outside of the clinical setting. The first generation of teaching and supervisory faculty came to the Relational position from a range of theoretical orientations including Freudian, Object Relations, Self Psychology and Interpersonal theories. These earlier traditions are represented in our curriculum along with contributions from social constructivist and feminist theories, theories of intersubjectivity, development, and attachment research.
We offer courses that focus on the work of Freud, Ferenczi, Klein, Fairbairn, Bion, Winnicott and Kohut as well as courses that specifically address intersectionality within contemporary theorizing. Attention to the cultural inscriptions around race, class, gender and sexuality, as well as to the inevitable biases and blind spots that shape our theories and practice, have become central to the Relational enterprise.
The Relational Orientation offers many opportunities for candidates to become involved during their training at Postdoc. We sponsor workshops and Sunday brunches in which faculty, graduates, and candidates present their work. Candidates are also encouraged to participate in aspects of Track governance and planning, including our executive committee and faculty selection committee. We also have candidate representatives on program wide committees such as the Colloquium Committee, the yearly weekend retreat planning committee, and the Recruitment committee.
On behalf of the Relational Orientation faculty, we enthusiastically welcome you to Postdoc!
Debbie Liner and Debbie Waxenberg, Track Co-Chairs.