IEA Student Presentations
May 14th, 2026 from 6-8 pm EST.
They Will Not Be Eating Us Today
This presentation will focus on the analytic intersections of using Music and Imagery to build a container and holding environment for projective identification and countertransference that occurred in the relationship with a client. Together, we will experience the music that allowed me to sit more deeply with my own feelings, and I will share how the imagery of a desolate landscape allowed for new growth to flourish in the non-verbal, implicit experience of the therapeutic alliance.
Heather Foster, MA, LCAT, ATR-BC is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and Art Therapist. She is currently in analytic training at IEA and has a private practice in Downtown Brooklyn, where she incorporates Music and Imagery and EMDR into her clinical work. Heather believes that as human beings we are inherently creative and driven to be in relationship with one another. Valuing countertransference as an integral part of the treatment process, Heather’s practice focuses on non-verbal communication’s ability to allow for deep connection with oneself and others.
Shame (Erotic or Otherwise) and the Monsters in the Room
What happens when a patient’s most shameful secret lands in the room — and triggers the therapist’s own? In Shame (Erotic or Otherwise) and the Monsters in the Room, Katherine Mechner takes us into a case that begins with an unsettling disclosure and ends in a rethinking of erotic transference itself.
Katherine Mechner is a former foreign correspondent and forensic social worker, Katherine Mechner has spent her entire professional life helping people make sense of their complicated stories. She is drawn to the complicated, layered identities that form at the intersection of cultures: the experience of immigration, of being multiracial, of growing up as a third-culture kid straddling worlds that don’t quite map onto each other. Katherine graduated from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work in 2020 and holds a master’s in journalism from Columbia University (1993).
This is a free event and is restricted to IEA members and students only.
Workshop: The Psychoanalytic Approach to the Treatment of Eating Disorders
Workshop: The Psychoanalytic Approach to the Treatment of Eating Disorders
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
Time: 12:00PM – 2PM EST
Location: Zoom. A link will be emailed to you after registering.
Join us online for a deep dive into the psychoanalytic methods that help tackle eating disorders. This workshop offers a psychoanalytic framework for recognizing, assessing, and responding to eating disorders, with a focus on early intervention and foundational treatment principles. Expect an engaging session filled with fresh insights and practical approaches.
Registration:
- IEA Students/Members: Free
- Non-Members (No CEUs): $30
- Non-Members (CEUs Included): $40
- Scholarship Tickets Available: Email Jamie Yasgur for more info: jlyasgur@gmail.com
Understanding the Psychiatric System: A Collaborative Guide for Therapists
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 7:00PM – 9PM EST
Location: Zoom – A link will be provided to registered participants prior to the event.
About This Event
This panel provides a practical and accessible overview of how therapists and psychoanalysts can collaborate effectively with psychiatric prescribers and broader systems of care. Presenters will explore when and why to refer for psychiatric evaluation, what typically takes place during an assessment, and how to communicate across disciplines to support client care. The discussion will also cover indicators for emergency psychiatric evaluation and hospitalization, what clients and families can expect in those situations, and offer a brief introduction to psychopharmacology. Time will be reserved for questions and discussion.
Who This Event Is For
Mental health professionals, clinicians in training, and others interested in the emotional and relational dimensions of infertility and grief.
Pricing
- IEA Students and Members: Free
- General Admission No CEU’s: 30.00
- General Admission CEUs Included: $40.00
CE Information
Two CE credits are available for LPs, LCATs, LMSWs, and LCSWs. Proof of attendance will be provided for all other participants. Certificates of attendance will be emailed following the workshop. Participants are responsible for meeting CE requirements.
Workshop Highlights
• When and how to refer for psychiatric evaluation
• What to expect during assessment and higher levels of care
• Cross disciplinary collaboration with prescribers
• Key indicators for emergency referral
• Practical introduction to psychopharmacology
• Live discussion and ongoing case consultations for IEA members
IEA BOOK TALK – You May Feel a Bit of Pressure: A Book Talk On Infertility, Grief, and The Emotional Terrain of Waiting
Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST
Location: Zoom – A link will be provided to registered participants prior to the event.
About This Event
Join the Institute for Expressive Analysis for a thoughtful book talk exploring infertility, grief, and the emotional terrain of waiting. Author Amy Gallo Ryan is joined by Hilary Grill, LCSW, for a reflective conversation on the lived emotional experience of infertility, including grief, uncertainty, and the impact on identity and relationships.
This event offers clinicians and mental health professionals language for often unspoken experiences and deepens understanding of the emotional realities faced by individuals and couples navigating infertility.
Who This Event Is For
Mental health professionals, clinicians in training, and others interested in the emotional and relational dimensions of infertility and grief.
Pricing
IEA Students and Members: Free
All Others: $55.20 by visiting: IEA Book Talk Tickets Here
CE Information
Two CE credits are available for LPs, LCATs, LMSWs, and LCSWs.
Proof of attendance will be provided for all other participants.
Certificates of attendance will be emailed following the workshop.
Participants are responsible for meeting CE requirements.
Workshop Highlights
• Brings language to hidden grief
• Explores infertility’s impact on identity and relationships
• Supports clinicians in understanding unspoken emotional realities
Check out the article on this amazing event here.
