Upcoming 2025-2026 ONLINE Seminars & Presentations

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Summer Reading Seminar: Freud’s Free Clinics: Psychoanalysis & Social Justice, 1918-1938

Presented by: Wally Fletcher, D.Min., NCPsyA

Course Meeting: Saturdays 10:00-11:15 AM (EST)

Course Dates: June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, August 1

CEs =8

Price: $100

Seminar Description:

This Summer’s reading seminar is in recognition of the 20th Anniversary of Elizabeth Danto’s ground-breaking Freud’s Free Clinics-Psychoanalysis & Social Justice, 1918-1938.  Citing Freud’s 1918 charge to his followers to prioritize free psychoanalytic care for the poor, this book debunked the common stereotype of Freud and his movement as conservative, individualistic, antiquated and especially deaf to the real-life problems of the poor, minoritized and severely emotionally ill. And she did so the hard way with meticulous research methods, in her words:
“I found concrete evidence in the clinics’ statistical reports that the social range of the psychoanalysts’ patient base was really very wide. I unearthed Freud’s personal checks endorsed to the Ambulatorium (the Vienna Free Clinic), his letters to colleagues thanking them for supporting the clinics, awards he received for his commitment to social welfare, and newspaper clippings reporting on his public advocacy.”
Danto’s writing is lucid, passionate, and justly appreciative of her subjects. By uncovering the lost narrative of post WWI progressivism in psychoanalysis Danto’s work has helped source and inspire a growing number of social justice conscious psychoanalytic thinkers and practitioners.  
 
Elizabeth Ann Danto is professor emeritus of social welfare at Hunter College, City University of New York. She is the author of Freud’s Free Clinics: Psychoanalysis & Social Justice, 1918-1938 (2005) which received both the Gradiva Award and the Goethe Prize, and Historical Research (2008). Dr. Danto writes and lectures internationally on the history of psychoanalysis as a system of thought and a marker of urban culture.
 
*Dr. Danto has also graciously accepted our invitation to appear for a live “meet the author” conversation during the June 20 gathering.

Seminar Objectives:

  1. Describe and discuss Freud’s post-WW1 call for re-visioning the psychoanalytic movement as a “psychoanalysis for the people” grounded in social justice-focusing on accessibility and inclusion.
  2. Describe and discuss how this call was actualized through the creation and achievements of free psychoanalytic clinics across ten cities and seven countries from 1920 and 1938.
  3. Describe and analyze Freud’s charge for analysts to adapt their techniques to meet the needs of people with all sorts of disorders, including ones that do not respond well to classical analytic rules.
  4. Consideration and discussion of the relevance and applications of this text for contemporary progressive psychoanalysis today.

About the Presenter:

Facilitator Wally Fletcher teaches courses on the evolution of psychoanalytic theory and practice and directs the Modern Psychoanalysis & Organizational Life course series at IMPP. Dr. Fletcher has extensive training and experience as a therapist, consultant, educator and non-profit executive. He is a Certified Psychoanalyst and Clinical Supervisor in the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis and a certified Clinical Fellow and member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He teaches courses in Organizational & Strategic Leadership and in Pastoral Counseling at Neumann University and courses in the history and evolution of psychoanalysis at the Institute for Modern Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia. He serves on the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health’s Faith and Spiritual Affairs Advisory Board. He is also on the mental health faculty of CREDO, an intensive wellness program for clergy administered by the Pension Boards of the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches US.