Faculty of Medical Psychotherapy Neuroscience Day

From feeding to the Counterfactual (M)other: Applications of Relational Neuroscience to psychiatric and psychotherapeutic practice with eating disorders

This training day will provide insight into recent developments in relational neuroscience of relevance to all psychiatrists and medical psychotherapists who work with patients with eating disorders.

We will be describing three critical stages in the development of the self-other distinction. These stages mark a progression from a primary stage of homeostatic union between mothers and infants through an exploratory stage towards the development of what in neuroscientific terms is called the counterfactual other (in psychodynamic terms object constancy).

We will go on to talk about the consequences of disruptions in this developmental progression and how these disruptions can lead to disordered eating and other mental health problems in later life.

We will be discussing presentations of psychotherapy and psychiatric work to illustrate the implications for clinical practice.

Speakers: Dr Susan Mizen and Professor Aikaterina Fotopoulou

The Development of the Self-Other Distinction and discussion

Professor Aikaterina Fotopoulou

Developmental Disruptions of the Self-Other Distinction and Psychopathology

Professor Aikaterina Fotopoulou and Dr Susan Mizen

Questions for future empirical research

Professor Aikaterina Fotopoulou and Dr Susan Mizen

The conference will take place online using Zoom as a webinar.

Participants will be able view a video of the speaker and alongside any slides. Participants can also pose questions, where the programme allows, and some speakers may use polling or other interactive features.

All registered participants will have access to a recording for up to two months after the event.

The webinar is taking place online via Zoom. To take part you will need: 

• Access to a reliable internet connection 
• A PC, laptop, tablet or phone 
• Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser or Zoom installed on your PC, laptop, tablet or phone 
• You do not need to have a Zoom account to attend.

Some users may experience difficulty joining Zoom meetings due to security settings. If this is the case, we suggest you select the option to join via a web browser, rather than the Zoom app. If you cannot join on your computer you can still join on your phone.  Please take a look at this helpful guide on how to join a Zoom meeting.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have read and understood the guidelines before the event.

Please read our terms and conditions before making your booking.