October 26 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, via Zoom

On Resistance – Adam Phillips webinar

Adam Phillips is a psychoanalyst and one of the most influential essayists and thinkers writing today. He has authored over 20 books of essays and studies, including On Kissing , Tickling , and Being Bored (1993), Becoming Freud: The Making of a Psychoanalyst (2014), Unforbidden Pleasures (2015), On Wanting to Change (2021), and his most recent works, On Giving Up (2024) and On Second Chances: Shakespeare and Freud (2024, co-authored with Stephen Greenblatt). His work, widely translated and celebrated for its clarity, depth, and wit, bridges clinical psychoanalysis, cultural commentary, and literary analysis. Phillips has held several academic positions, including his current role as Honorary Visiting Professor in the Department of English and Related Literature at York University, where he has taught since 2006. Phillips’ contributions extend far beyond the clinic, addressing the intersections of human desire, resistance, and the unconscious both in individual and collective contexts.

In this lecture, Adam Phillips will critically examine the concept of resistance in psychoanalysis, exploring its central role in both clinical practice and theoretical discourse. Resistance, often viewed as an impediment to therapeutic progress, is integral to understanding the unconscious dynamics within the analytic encounter. Phillips will explore how resistance manifests not only in the patient’s reluctance to engage with painful or repressed material, but also in the psychoanalyst’s own countertransference responses. He will argue that these resistances, far from being mere obstacles, are essential to the analytic process, actively shaping its course and revealing deeper unconscious truths. Moreover, Phillips will investigate the relationship between resistance and psychoanalytic writing, suggesting that the challenges of translating unconscious material into language parallel those encountered in clinical work, further highlighting the productive potential of resistance in both therapy and theory.Following the lecture, Phillips will engage in an interactive interview about his work, inviting audience participation to explore the complexities of resistance and its broader relevance in psychoanalytic practice, culture, and society. This session will provide a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the theoretical underpinnings of resistance, offering valuable insights into its implications for contemporary psychoanalysis and beyond.

Learning Objectives:

1. To explore the role of resistance in psychoanalysis, both in clinical practice and in the writing of psychoanalytic theory.
2. To explore the ways in which resistance functions as a dynamic force in shaping unconscious life, identity, and social structures.
3. To examine the relationship between resistance and the political dimensions of the unconscious, including how resistance offers insight into individual symptoms and broader political and social dynamics.

Continuing Education Credits/Hours:

For Psychologists: This program is co-sponsored by Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP) and The New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis (NJI). ACAP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ACAP maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. www.acapnj.org

For NJ Social Workers: This program is co-sponsored by The New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work, which provides leadership and support to clinical social workers in all practice settings. The New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work has given voice to clinical social workers dealing with the healthcare industry. The organization provides outstanding continuing education programs and opportunities for collegial contact. www.njscsw.org

For Licensed Professional Counselors: NJI has been approved by NBCC as an approved continuing education provider, ACEP No. 5822. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credits are clearly identified. NJI is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

For Psychoanalysts: NJI is an approved entity to provide CE for New Jersey Psychoanalysts. NJI is an ABAP accredited institution.

Level: All levels

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Conference Costs:

• Professionals: $110.00
• Professionals NOT seeking CE credits/clock hours: $90.00
• NJI Faculty currently teaching: $60.00
• Current NJI candidates: $25.00
• Other Institutes’ candidates (ID REQUIRED): $25.00
• NJI Interns: Free

Cancellation policy: Cancellations made prior 72 hours (3 days) before the event will receive a full refund minus $25 administrative fee. Cancellations made less than 72 hours before the event will be given half of the registration fees.Refunds will not be given for same day cancellations.

There is no potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support for this continuing education event.

Get Your Tickets here

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Last day to register for this event is 10/22/25.

For more information or registration please call 201-836-1065, visit us online www.njinstitute.com or via regular mail, 121 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, NJ 07666.

Non-Discrimination Policy: NJI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief, or creed.