Psychodynamic Psychiatry Day 2025 Conference Resources
Welcome to the Psychodynamic Psychiatry Day 2025 conference. This year's theme is 'If grief is the 'sea we swim in', what does this mean for psychiatry?'
We look forward to welcoming you to RCPsych, London.
Please note that the presentations are the intellectual property of the speaker and the College and any unauthorised broadcasting/copying of the material is strictly prohibited. Presentations are only available where speakers have kindly provided permission.
Exploring how mourning, and its interruption, shapes psychiatric presentations and treatment
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‘What it is to be human. It seems to me that the common agent that binds us all together is loss, and so the point in life must be measured in relation to that loss. Our individual losses can be small or large. They can be accumulations of losses barely registered on a singular level, or full-scale cataclysms. Loss is absorbed into our bodies from the moment we are cast from the womb until we end our days, subsumed by it to become the essence of loss itself.’ (Cave, 2022)
After nine years of rich discussion and clinical reflection, this final Psychodynamic Psychiatry Day turns to what may be the most fundamental aspect of human experience: loss and grief. These forces underpin much of our clinical work, yet we are rarely afforded the space to reflect on them in depth.
Our response to loss — and our capacity to mourn — shapes both psychological development and vulnerability to mental illness. On this day, we will pause to think together about how grief, loss and mourning informs not only psychiatric symptoms, but also our practices, relationships, and ethical decisions.
We invite you to read this article by Dr Rachel Gibbons, which brings together the psychiatric and psychoanalytic views of mental illness to deepen the understanding of mental disorder:
Dr Rachel Gibbons
Dr Rachel Gibbons is a psychoanalyst, group analyst, and consultant psychiatrist who has worked on the frontline of adult mental health services in the UK for over two decades. Trained as both a medical psychotherapist and psychoanalyst, she occupied a rare position—working in inpatient and community psychiatric services while bringing a deep psychodynamic understanding to her clinical practice.
Dr Gibbons has been at the forefront of developing psychodynamic psychiatry in the UK. She is co-editor, with Dr Jo O’Reilly, of Seminars in the Psychotherapies, a flagship Royal College of Psychiatrists’ publication focused on integrating psychodynamic ideas into psychiatric care. Her leadership roles at the College have included chairing national working groups on the impact of suicide and homicide on clinicians, as well as leading initiatives in patient safety across UK mental health services.
Dr Vikram Luthra
Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy (dual trained with General Adult Psychiatry) at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, (LYPFT), and Psychoanalyst (M. Institute of Psychoanalysis)
In addition to his Medical Psychotherapy role, he is the Clinical Lead for the Take Time (doctors and dentists in difficulty) service which covers the Yorkshire and Humber region. He is a co-opted member of the Medical Psychotherapy Faculty Executive Committee and one of the Academic Co-Secretaries for the Faculty. He also holds the Joint-TPD role for Medical Psychotherapy for Yorkshire and Humer. He is the Regional Medical Psychotherapy Representative for Yorkshire. He is the Joint-President of the Balint Society, UK, and interested in increasing the diversity and engagement of members of the society. He is a passionate educator and trainer for undergraduate and postgraduate learners in Medicine and holds an Honorary Senior Lecturer position at the University of Leeds. He is a RCPsych CASC examiner. He is a member of the British Psychoanalytic Society and works as a psychoanalyst in private practice. His other interests include supporting the development of reflective skills in doctors and furthering psychotherapeutic skills within psychiatry.
Dr Jo O’Reilly
Dr Jo O’Reilly is a consultant psychiatrist in medical psychotherapy in Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust. She first became interested in psychological aspects of medicine when she was able to join a medical student psychotherapy scheme and has trained and worked in a range of primary , secondary and tertiary care settings including the Maudsley Hospital, Cassel Therapeutic Community, and the Tavistock Clinic. She trained as a psychoanalyst at the British Psychoanalytic Society.
Jo has a keen interest in promoting psychological thinking within psychiatry and developing an organizational culture which supports staff. In her NHS role she has developed a framework for reflective practice for all mental health teams across the mental health trust and contributes to specialist panels for complex and high risk clinical presentations. She leads a secondary care psychodynamic psychotherapy service which provides a consultation service, group and individual and group therapy and training for psychiatrists and other colleagues.
Jo has been a member of the Medical Psychotherapy Executive Committee at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and vice chair of the specialist training committee (SAC) for many years. She organizes an annual Psychodynamic Psychiatry Conference at the RCPsych and is the co-editor with Rachel Gibbons of the RCPsych text book Seminars in the Psychotherapies, published in June 2021. Jo’s other priorities include increasing the provision of a full range of psychological therapies, workforce wellbeing, and the importance of relationships in clinical care.
Dr Maria Papanastassiou
Group analyst, trained at the Institute of group analysis London and Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist working both in the NHS and the private sector as well as London universities. Teacher at the institute of group analysis for students at the Qualifying course. Has special interest in conducting large groups both at the college and in other training communities.
Dr Anne Patterson
I am a retired consultant medical psychotherapist now working as a psychoanalyst in private practice in south London. I am co-director of the biennial European Psychoanalytic Film Festival and of the regular 10 Windsor Walk film club in South London. I am also editor of the New Library of Psychoanalysis and co-president of the UK Balint Society.
We will be joined by Francesca, Tom and Louise from the charity Health:Pitch, who will be performing a musical prelude as delegates arrive to invite us into the day's theme of loss and mourning.
Francesca will also be delivering an integrated reprise during the opening keynote to link the musical and clinical experience.
Health:Pitch also featured in a recent RCPsych Insight magazine article.
You will automatically receive a certificate of attendance 1 week after the event has taken place.
This course is eligible for up to 6 CPD hours, subject to peer group approval.