Houston Psychoanalytic Society

Online Book Discussion

On Coming into Possession of Oneself:

Transformations of the Interpersonal Field

by Donnel B. Stern, PhD (Routledge, 2024)

A Book Review and Discussion with

Jon Allen, PhD


Thursday, April 24, 2025

7:00PM – 8:30PM Central Time


Live via Zoom

This event will not be recorded


1.5 CEU/CE Credits


Registration Fees

HPS Full Members: $30

HPS Student Members: $15

Non-Members: $40


Instructional Level: Intermediate

REGISTER

A Note from the Program Chair: In 1983, Donnel B. Stern, PhD published his groundbreaking article about unformulated experience. Since then, he authored numerous journal articles and book chapters, co-edited four books, and authored four books, becoming a renowned leader in the development of relational psychoanalysis. The relational movement, in turn, has influenced the ideas and treatment practices of clinicians from other schools of psychoanalytic thought, including Jon G. Allen, PhD. Dr. Allen operated primarily from a mentalization stance in conceptualizing trauma and psychotherapy, but began studying Stern's ideas and other relational viewpoints in recent years. Dr. Allen integrated some of these ideas into his own forthcoming book about bringing psychotherapy to life through caring connections. As a highly regarded scholar and prolific writer in his own right, he is known for his pragmatic attitude toward treatment and clear manner of communication. Please join us for what I anticipate will be an enlivening presentation as he shares his ideas about Stern's concepts!


Jon G.Allen, Ph.D. will lead a discussion for HPS about Donnel Stern’s latest book, On Coming into Possession of Oneself: Transformations of the Interpersonal Field. This book synthesizes Stern’s integrative theory of therapeutic change, building on three core concepts: formulating unformulated experience and meaning-making, both in the context of a therapeutic interpersonal field. These concepts enrich our understanding of the ultimate therapeutic aim of coming into possession of oneself. Participants will explore their understanding of these concepts of the therapeutic process and their application to clinical experience.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After attending the program in its entirety, attendees will be able to:

  1. Describe what is meant by unformulated versus formulated experience, meaning making, and the interpersonal field
  2. Give examples of applying these concepts in clinical practice

Presenter

Jon G. Allen, PhD, holds the position of Clinical Professor as a member of the voluntary faculty in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He is an honorary member of the faculty at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston and an adjunct faculty member of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Allen received his B.A. degree in psychology at the University of Connecticut and his Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology at the University of Rochester. He completed postdoctoral training in clinical psychology at The Menninger Clinic. While remaining engaged in education and research, he retired from clinical practice after 40 years at The Menninger Clinic, where he taught and supervised fellows and residents along with conducting psychotherapy, diagnostic consultations, psychoeducational programs, and research on clinical outcomes. In retirement he has continued to teach, provide clinical consultation, and write. He is past editor of the Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic and a member of the editorial board of Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes. His books include Coping with Trauma: From Self-Understanding to Hope; Coping with Depression: From Catch-22 to Hope; Restoring Mentalizing in Attachment Relationships: Treating Trauma with Plain Old Therapy; Trusting in Psychotherapy and, with coauthors Peter Fonagy and Anthony Bateman, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice, all published by American Psychiatric Publishing. He is also author of Traumatic Relationships and Serious Mental Disorders and coeditor, with Peter Fonagy, of Handbook of Mentalization-Based Treatment, both published by John Wiley and Sons, as well as author of Mentalizing in the Development and Treatment of Attachment Trauma, published by Karnac. His current book (under review) is Bringing Psychotherapy to Life through Caring Connections. He has authored and coauthored numerous professional articles and book chapters on trauma-related problems, psychotherapy, the therapeutic alliance, hospital treatment, and psychological assessment.


REFERENCES

Stern, D. B. (1983). Unformulated experience —From familiar chaos to creative disorder. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 19: 71-99.


Stern, D. B. (2019). Unformulated experience and the relational turn. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 39: 127-135.


Stern, D. B. (2022). On coming into possession of oneself: Witnessing and the formulation of experience. Psychoanalytic Quarterly,91: 639-667.


Stern, D. B. (2023). Interpretation: Voice of the field. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 71: 1127-1148.



IMAGE of book and candle from Shutterstock

Disclosures

APA Accreditation Statement

Houston Psychoanalytic Society is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Houston Psychoanalytic Society maintains responsibility for this program and its content.


HPS, through co-sponsorship with the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies, also offers approved CEUs for Texas state-approved social workers, licensed professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

1302 Waugh Dr. #276, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 429-5810
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