Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Now 2026

Description

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Now 2026

The slippery slope: boundary violations in the consulting room and in our institutions

Sexual boundary violations are not new to the psychoanalytic world, and we know that they are not unique to this profession but are in fact prevalent when power dynamics are at play. The BPC has investigated a series of significant sexual boundary violations in recent years, resulting in Registrants being removed from our Register. There have also been cases in the press, which have led to repeated calls for the profession of psychotherapy to be statutorily regulated.

In this conference, we will explore how and why such violations happen, and what can be done to prevent them. This conference aims to address the noticeable scarcity of publications and events on this topic, opening a dialogue to think about the unthinkable in our profession. Many questions arise around such issues: is more oversight of the profession needed? Does more attention need to be paid during training to the importance of ethical practice? Is there sufficient accountability, especially in the senior echelons of the profession?

As well as the consequences for the lives of victims, and for the perpetrators, we cannot overlook the damage such cases have on public confidence in our profession. In addition to investigating what happens when things go wrong, the BPC has an important role in deepening our understanding of the problem, to inform effective preventative measures whilst supporting safe psychoanalytic therapy.

Booking arrangements

This conference is hybrid; there are a limited number of seats at the venue in London Bridge and the conference will be streamed live, online. Whilst it is important to the BPC to provide the option to watch the conference virtually, which may be more accessible and convenient for some, this option comes at both a financial and social cost. The equipment to record and stream the event is expensive and this is reflected in the online ticket costs. There is also a loss of social connection when streaming the event online, which we consider to be an important part of our flagship conference. Therefore, we strongly suggest purchasing an in-person ticket if you are able to attend, to receive the full experience of the conference. 

It is a priority to the BPC for trainees to be part of our conference. There are a set number of in-person tickets available for trainees at a subsidised cost, this can often mean we run the conference at a loss. If you would like to join us in person, please book early to avoid disappointment. Trainee ticket prices are only available to those on our trainee membership.

Please note that the deadline for booking in-person tickets is midnight on 3 November. Online tickets can be purchased up until midnight on 11 November. Book now to avoid disappointment. After the deadlines have passed, email hello@bpc.org.uk to enquire about cancellations and we will do our best to accommodate you. 

NB tickets can only be refunded up until 14 days prior to the event. 

Speakers

Andrea Celenza, Ph.D. is a Training and Supervising Analyst at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and Assistant Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School. She has consulted with over 450 cases of therapist-patient sexual boundary transgressions. She has written numerous papers and four books on love, sexuality and psychoanalysis. Her first book, Sexual Boundary Violations: Therapeutic, Supervisory and Academic Contexts, was published by Jason Aronson in 2007. Her work has been recognized with The Karl Menninger Award, The Helena Deutsch Prize, and The Simonds Prize. Her writings have been translated into Italian, Spanish, Korean, Russian, Chinese, and Farsi. Her third book, entitled, Transference, Love, and Being: Essential Essays from the Field, was published in 2022 by Routledge and was nominated for the Gradiva Award. Her fourth book, published by Routledge in 2024 is Erotic Transferences: A Contemporary Introduction. Dr. Celenza is in private practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA.

PPNow Awards 2026

The PPNow Awards are an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations within our psychoanalytic community. We will be announcing the award winners at the conference. To find out about the categories or nominate an organisation or colleague, click here.

Book tickets