Episode 14 Exploring Psychedelic-Assisted Psychoanalysis with Megan Rundel | Psychoanalysis & You | APsA official podcast

Psychoanalysis & You is the official podcast of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) about psychoanalysis and everyday life, hosted by Dr. Gail Saltz.

In this insightful episode of 'Psychoanalysis of You,' host Gail Saltz welcomes Megan Rundel, PhD, a psychoanalyst from Oakland, California. Dr. Arundel shares her journey into the world of psychedelic-assisted psychoanalysis, detailing her extensive experience with ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin. She elaborates on the impact of psychedelics in facilitating deeper psychoanalytic work, helping patients with rigid defenses, and enhancing the therapeutic process. The conversation delves into the neuroscientific basis of psychedelics, the importance of proper training and personal experience for practitioners, and the need for careful patient selection to ensure safe and effective treatment. The dialogue sheds light on the burgeoning field of psychedelic therapy and its potential to revolutionize psychoanalytic practice.

Guest – Megan Arundel, Ph.D.

Dr. Arundel is a psychoanalyst practicing in Oakland, California. She is a graduate of, and on the faculty of the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California. She has also completed a number of certifications in psychedelic-assisted therapy and has been practicing psychedelic assisted psychoanalysis for five years. Additionally, she has been practicing Zen Buddhism for over 30 years and is a teacher with the Open Source Zen Community.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:07 Megan Rundel's Journey into Psychedelics

01:18 Psychedelics in Psychoanalysis: Historical Context

04:51 Ketamine in Psychoanalytic Practice

06:14 Patient Suitability and Safety Considerations

17:30 Session Structure and Integration

19:40 Understanding Psychedelics through Neuroscience

26:17 Psychoanalytic Paradigms and Expanded States

42:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Psychoanalysis & You is the official podcast of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) about psychoanalysis and everyday life hosted by Dr. Gail Saltz.Episode 13 – Artificial Intelligence and Psychoanalysis

In this episode of Psychoanalysis and You, Dr. Gail Saltz speaks with Dr. Todd Essig, a psychoanalyst and AI expert. They discuss the impact of telemedicine on psychoanalysis and the evolving role of AI in mental health care. Dr. Essig explores how psychoanalysts should engage with AI, the concept of techno-subjunctive relationships, and the ethical responsibilities of the psychoanalytic community in the AI revolution. The conversation also addresses the potential benefits and dangers of AI chatbots in therapy and the broader implications for society. Tune in to learn how psychoanalysis can contribute to the development of AI technologies that align with human values and needs.

Dr. Todd Essig is Faculty and Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst at the William Alanson White Institute, Adjunct Clinical Professor at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis and member of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) Advisory Board. Widely known as a pioneer in the innovative uses of mental health technologies his current areas of research, writing and teaching include the gains and losses of teletherapies and how emerging technologies, especially AI, change self-experience and intimate relationships. He created and currently co-chairs APsA’s Council on Artificial Intelligence. Previously he co-chaired APsA’s Covid-19 Advisory Team for which he was awarded Distinguished Service awards by APsA and the NY State Psychological Association. For 10 years, until the pandemic hit, he wrote "Managing Mental Wealth" for Forbes. Dr. Essig maintains a private practice in New York where he treats individuals and couples.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Psychoanalysis and You
• 00:36 Meet Dr. Todd Essig
• 01:57 Telemedicine in Psychoanalysis
• 03:02 The Spectrum of Teletherapy Acceptance
• 04:25 Challenges and Differences in Teletherapy
• 09:49 Transition to AI in Psychoanalysis
• 11:24 The Role of Psychoanalysts in the AI Revolution
• 24:42 Guardrails and Ethical Considerations in AI
• 30:39 Protecting Psychoanalytic Care in the Age of AI
• 31:48 AI in Mental Health: A Case Study
• 32:58 Challenges and Limitations of AI in Psychoanalysis
• 33:33 Exploring AI's Potential in Dream Analysis
• 35:22 Ethical and Practical Concerns with AI Chatbots
• 36:03 The Future of AI in Psychoanalytic Treatment
• 40:47 Personal and Professional Uses of AI
• 49:22 The Role of Psychoanalysts in the AI Revolution
• 51:43 Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Solutions
• 54:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 12 - Using Psychoanalytic Insights to Shape Public Policy and Treatment for Veterans, with Harold Kudler

In this episode of Psychoanalysis and You, Dr. Gail Saltz interviews Dr. Harold Kudler, a distinguished psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, about his extensive experience working with veterans. Dr. Kudler shares insights from his career, including his time at the VA and his psychoanalytic training, and discusses the intersection of psychological trauma and military service. He explains how psychoanalytic principles helped him treat veterans suffering from PTSD and illuminates the complex nature of trauma and moral injury. Additionally, Dr. Kudler addresses the stigma surrounding mental health care in the military and highlights the importance of personalized mental health treatment. The episode concludes with Freudian quickies, where other analysts share their views on psychoanalytic values and the shortest treatments they have provided.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:26 Meet Dr. Harold Kudler

01:23 Psychoanalytic Training and VA Psychiatry

05:13 Understanding Psychological Trauma

11:10 Challenges in Treating Veterans

18:00 Military Mental Health Policy

24:53 Psychoanalytic Principles in Public Health

38:47 Freudian Quickies

43:16 Conclusion https://apsa.org/podcast #APsApodcast

Our Guest for Episode 12: Harold Kudler

Dr. Kudler received his M.D. from Downstate Medical Center, trained in Psychiatry at Yale and is Associate Consulting Professor at Duke and Adjunct Professor at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. From 2000 through 2005, he co-chaired the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA’s) Special Committee on PTSD which reports directly to Congress. He has served on the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Board of Directors, co-led development of joint VA/Department of Defense Guidelines for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress, and advised Sesame Street’s Talk Listen Connect series for military families.

Dr. Kudler is immediate Past President of the Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas and chairs the Service Members and Veterans Initiative of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the Military and Veterans Committee of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry.

Our Host

Our Host Dr. Gail Saltz is best known for her work as a relationship, family, emotional wellbeing, and mental health contributor in the media where she is a go-to expert for commentary on the mental health aspects of current/breaking issues and news. She is a bestselling author of numerous books. She serves on the public information committee for the American Psychoanalytic Association and for The Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. Dr. Saltz is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of medicine, a psychoanalyst with the New York Psychoanalytic Institute.

Our Podcast

In this podcast, we explore the intricacies of psychoanalysis under the guidance of our host, Gail Saltz. Founded in 1911, the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) is the oldest national psychoanalytic organization in the nation. APsA is committed to being a professional membership organization for psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic psychotherapists, academics, researchers, students, and other interested people – all whose work is profoundly informed by psychoanalytic theory and values, and to supporting their education and continuing professional development.

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