Nina Thomas, PhD

May 6-8 2022

Dr. Thomas is a licensed psychologist and certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Psychoanalysis in Psychology and by the National Board of Health Service Providers. She is also certified as a group psychotherapist by the National Registry of Group Psychotherapy. Dr. Thomas specializes in individual, couples, group and family therapy with particular expertise in working with a variety of trauma conditions. She maintains a private practice in Morristown, NJ and New York, NY.

With over 25 years experience as a licensed psychologist, psychoanalyst and certified group psychotherapist and as a graduate of Columbia University’s Teachers College and of the NYU Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Dr. Thomas specializes in relational psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. She currently works in private practice. Dr. Thomas has presented at numerous national and international conferences and to general audiences speaking on the topics of trauma of illness, loss and other catastrophic events; on family and marital relationships, women’s issues, fathering, divorce and being a woman in today’s world.

Seminar title: Decolonizing the clinical space.

Seminar Description: The program for Saturday and Sunday is designed for active Interaction among all participants to further our experience of holding the history of our patients, particularly when it involves historical racial or ethnic traumas in the context of recognizing the utility of incorporating culturally synotonic modes of working.

Saturday May 7th Schedule - Morning

1. Didactic presentation using multiple media to define and elucidate the task of decolonizing psychoanalysis including interaction to elicit participants’ awareness and knowledge of modes of healing within the communities with which they live and work.- 60 minutes

2. Case presentation by attendee - 20 minutes

3. Breakout group for discussion of case - 30 minutes

4. Break - 10 minutes 5. Resume large group for further didactic - 25 minutes

6. Breakout groups for discussion of issues raised by didactic and earlier session discussion - 30 minutes LUNCH

Saturday Schedule - Afternoon

1. Response to morning session - Q&A and discussion - 20 mins.

2. Further videos on decolonization and “Lecture” 40 mins

3. Breakout groups for small group discussion of material - 30 minutes.

4. Return to large group for final discussion of the day - 30 minutes

Sunday May 8th (10 - 12)

1. Presentation of case material by an attendee selected in advance who has presented the written case material to me and where the case involves issues of the history of racial/ ethnic trauma play a role. - 1 1/4 hour

2. Open discussion by all attendees of issues raised in case material as related to inclusion-exclusion of patient’s cultural knowledge and expertise. - 45 minutes.

Selected Readings: 

Caflisch, (2020) When reparation is felt to be impossible: persecutory guilt and breakdowns in thinking and dialogue about race, Psychoanalytic dialogues, 30, pp.578-594. 

Layton, L. (2019) Transgenerational hauntings: Toward a social psychoanalysis and an ethic of dis-illusionment, Psychoanalytic dialogues, 29:2, pp. 105-121 

Swartz, S. (2020) “Giving In, giving up, and being blown to smithereens: A discussion of “‘When reparation is felt to be impossible’: Persecutory guilt and breakdowns in thinking and dialogue about race.” Psychoanalytic dialogues, 30:613–620, 2020 

Yakushko , O.(2021) On the dangers of transnational influences of western psychology: Decolonizing international perspectives on women and therapy, Women and therapy, 44:1-2, pp.193-211. 

Yi, K. (2014). Toward formulation of ethnic identity beyond the binary of white oppressor and racial other. Psychoanalytic psychology, 31(3):426-434.