Scholarly Dialogues--formerly called Masterclass, is an open discussion and learning session where small groups gather together with important scholars in the field to discuss 1-2 papers from their body of work. The intimacy of the setting allows participants to be able to ask personal questions about the author's ideas and share some of their own reactions and thinking about the material. Papers will be distributed in advance to registered attendees.

Despecializing Psychoanalysis for Psychic Militancy

This talk advocates for seizing and despecializing psychoanalysis to help us understand how we might remain aligned in psychic militancy against psychic intrusions by violent systems. It will attempt to distill the mechanics of psychic militancy to read how settler colonial logics and their imperialist counterparts work to lodge themselves inside of us, mobilizing identifications with the aggressor that have potential to disrupt notions of our own self as well as others, as Frantz Fanon has taught us. We will discuss how we might engage in refusals against psychic intrusions and their politically demobilizing work.  

Learning Objectives:

• Identify ways to recognize and resist psychic intrusions from violent systems.
• Analyze Fanon’s insights on internalized violence and identification with the aggressor.
• Describe psychic militancy and its role in sustaining resistance.
• Explore refusal as a strategy for countering psychic intrusions.

Lara Sheehi, PsyD

Lara Sheehi is a Research Fellow at the University of South Africa's Institute for Social and Health Sciences, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the host of the Psychic Militancy podcast. Lara’s work focuses on psychoanalysis, the psychic refusals central to liberation struggles and life-making in the Global South, the psychic dimensions of resistance and revolution, and critical Zionism studies. She is co-author with Stephen Sheehi of Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine (Routledge, 2022) which won the Middle East Monitor's 2022 Palestine Book Award for Best Academic Book. Lara is a member of the founding collective for the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism and is on the advisory board for Forensic Architecture. Her new book, From the Clinic to the Streets: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures will be released by Pluto Press in May 2026.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the event to receive a refund, minus an administrative fee of $50.
Cancellations made less than 14 days before the event are non-refundable.
Exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis.
To request a refund or an exception, please contact admin@nwaps.org.

Continuing Education: This program is available for 2.50 continuing education credits. Participants must attend 100% of the program. Upon completion of the class evaluation, a certificate will be issued. This serves as documentation of attendance for all participants. Psychologists will have their participation registered through Division 39. APS and Division 39 are committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in continuing education activities and will conduct all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. If participants have special needs, reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate them. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.

Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for the program and its content.