How are Sex and Gender Embodied in the Therapeutic Relationship?

December 7, 2024

Dr. Stacy Berlin’s talk delves into the fluid nature of gender, weaving personal reflections with its impact on the psychoanalytic couple. She embellishes and emphasizes gender’s relevance in relational dynamics, noting that in moments of flow, her gendered reactions are seamlessly integrated into her personality. However, moments of dysregulation can prompt a reversion to binary frameworks. Stacy highlights how societal shifts have transformed gender from rigid binaries into a more dynamic, context-dependent concept. Through personal experiences and clinical interactions, particularly with an evocative, provocative patient named Jade, she explores how her gendered responses shape therapeutic dynamics. She underlines the importance of self-awareness in navigating these fluid states, concluding that embracing gender fluidity can foster authenticity and enrich the analytic process.