Presentations

Coburn, W. J. (2026). Conversations with Howard Bacal. Interview with Howard Bacal sponsored by the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2026). Hospitality In Psychoanalysis: A Discussion of Nebbiosi and Frederici’s “Epics, Tragedy and the Metamorphosis of Hate.” Paper prepared for the 2026 International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Conference in Toronto, Canada.

Coburn, W. J. (2025). Attitudes, Attitudes, Attitudes: Commentary on Daniel Perlitz’ “Before Empathy and Selfobject Experience: The Traits and Attitudes of a Self Psychologist.” Paper presented at the 2025 International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology Conference in Pasadena, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2024). Chasing The Tipping Point: Complexity Theory in The Clinical Surround. Plenary paper presented at the 2024 International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology Conference in Rome, Italy.

Coburn, W. J. (2024). The Rendering of a Lived Life: Discussion of Mia Goldman’s “Complex Trauma: Hope for an Unlived Life.” Paper presented at the 2024 Spring Open House at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2023). Freedom, Creativity and Self Ownership: An Emergence Theory of Free Will. Paper presented at the 2023 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Chicago, IL.

Coburn, W. J. (2023). Expanding Psychoanalytic Complexity Theory. Paper (part 2) presented at the Shanghai Xinyun Psychology Institute, April, Shanghai, China.

Coburn, W. J. (2023). Expanding Psychoanalytic Complexity Theory. Paper (part 1) presented at the Shanghai Xinyun Psychology Institute, February, Shanghai, China.

Coburn, W. J. (2022). Always Borrowed, Never Possessed: Commentary on panel papers by Annita Chatzimichailidi and Sam Guzzardi, “Thinking, Participating, and Speaking Outside The Box.” Paper presented at the 2022 Annual Conference of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, June, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2021). Psychoanalytic Complexity. Keynote paper presented at the 7th Chinese Psychoanalytic Congress, December, Shanghai, China.

Coburn, W. J. (2020). The Creativity of ICP: My Evolving Theory. Paper presented at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles. A Program in Honor of Estelle Shane, Ph.D., July, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2019). Horsing Around: Commentary on Joachim Sehrbrock’s “Social Thirdness: Intersubjective Conceptions of the Experience of Prejudice.” Paper presented at the 2019 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Vancouver, BC

Coburn, W. J. (2019). Psychoanalytic Complexity Theory and Clinical Attitudes. Three Day Lecture/Training Presentation at the Nanjia Psychology Center. Shanghai, China.

Coburn, W. J. (2018). An Imaginative Turn In Psychoanalysis: Commentary on Peter Maduro’s “In Defense of Illusion: Creative Agency (Imagination) In The Tolerance of Existential Anxiety and Grief.” Paper presented at the 2018 Annual Conference of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, June, New York City.

Coburn, W. J. (2017). What Is Mine and What Is Yours: Allegiances, Appendages and The Price of Freedom. Paper presented at the Psychology & The Other Conference, October, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Coburn, W. J. (2017). Commensurability and Incommensurability of Paradigms Among Theories and Persons. Paper presented at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, February, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). Therapeutic Action and Clinical Attitudes. Presentation at the Arizona Psychoanalytic Society, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). The Principle of Necessity, and the Necessity of Principle: A Discussion of Steve Stern’s paper, “Holistic Thinking and Therapeutic Action: Building on Louis Sander’s Contribution.” Presentation at the 2016 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Boston, Massachusetts.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). Psychoanalytic Complexity and the Clinical Attitude. Presentation at the Australian Chapter of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, July, Sydney, Australia.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). Embodying A Lively Sense of Paradox: Commensurability and Incommensurability of Paradigms Among Theories and Persons. Paper presentation at the 2016 Annual Conference of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, June, Rome, Italy.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). Psychoanalytic Complexity: Therapeutic Action and Clinical Attitudes. Invited presentation at the 2016 CAMFT Annual Conference, May, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). Acts of Freedom: A Discussion of Anna M. Barbero’s “Defective Attunement and Alteration of the Bodily Rhythm.” Presented at the Istituto di Specializzazione in Psicologia Psicoanalitica del Sé, March, Milan, Italy.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). I Sistemi Dinamici Non Lineari (Psychoanalytic Complexity). An invited two-day presentation at the Universita degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca e Istituto ISIPSE, March, Milan, Italy.

Coburn, W. J. (2016). Psychoanalytic Complexity: Paradox and Attitudes–Playing with The Phenomenological and The Explanatory. Invited presentation at the Institute for the Psychoanalytic Study of Subjectivity, January, New York City, New York.

Coburn, W. J. (2015). Commensurable and Incommensurable Paradigms of Theories and Persons. Plenary panel paper presented at the 2015 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2015). Psychoanalytic Complexity: Clinical Attitudes for Therapeutic Change. Meet-the-Author presentation at the 2015 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2014). Individuality and The Prereflective Systems Consciousness. Invited paper presentation at the Rapaport-Klein Study Group, Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, MA

Coburn, W. J. (2014). Psychoanalytic Complexity and The Clinical Attitude. Invited two-day presentation at the Oklahoma Society for Psychoanalytic Studies, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 21 & 22, 2014

Coburn, W. J. (2013). The Theoretical World of Bernard Brandchaft. Invited paper presentation for “Tribute to Dr. Bernard Brandchaft and his Emancipatory Psychoanalysis,” Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, June 15, 2013

Coburn, W. J. (2012). Discussion of presentations by Penelope Starr-Karlin and Howard Bacal for Plenary Panel: Intersubjectivity, Complexity, and Specificity: Re-Viewing Self Autonomy and Context-Embeddedness in Clinical Practice. Presented at the 2012 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Washington, DC.

Coburn, W. J. (2012). Introduction to Plenary Panel: Intersubjectivity, Complexity, and Specificity: Re-Viewing Self Autonomy and Context-Embeddedness in Clinical Practice. Presented at the 2012 Annual Conference of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, October, Washington, DC.

Coburn, W. J. (2012). Clinical Aspects of Psychoanalytic Complexity. Invited presentation at the Arizona Psychoanalytic Society, Phoenix, Arizona, July, 2012.

Coburn, W. J. (2012). Time Is of The Essence: A Discussion of Christina Emanuel’s “Rarified Luminous Spaghetti” and Deborah Agrest’s “Serving Time.” Paper presented at the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Annual Conference, New York City, March, 2012.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Psychoanalytic Complexity and The Clinical Attitude. Paper presented at the Arizona Psychoanalytic Society Salon, Phoenix, Arizona, December, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Others ‘r’ Us: From Boundedness to Embeddedness: Invited commentary on Kenneth Gergen’s “Relational Being.” Paper presented at the Conference on Psychology and the Other, Lesley University, Cambridge, October, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Persons In Context: Contextualist Attitudes In Psychoanalysis. Invited paper presented at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, April, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Foundations and Advancements in Contextualism: An invited discussion of Robert Stolorow’s “A Phenomenological-Contextualist Psychoanalytic Perspective: From Mind to World, From Drive to Affectivity.” Paper delivered at the AAPCSW 2011 Conference in Marina del Rey, California, March, 2011 and at the International Conference on the Psychology of the Self in Los Angeles, California, October, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Psychoanalytic Complexity: Context, Attitudes and Epistemological Ineptitude. Paper delivered at the AAPCSW 2011 Conference in Marina del Rey, California, March, 2011 and at the International Conference on the Psychology of the Self in Los Angeles, California, October, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Introduction of and Interview with Howard Bacal on Specificity Theory. Presentation at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, March, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2011). Psychoanalytic Complexity and Clinical Practice. Presentation at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, February, 2011.

Coburn, W. J. (2010). Psychoanalytic Complexity: Innovations in Therapeutic Attitudes and Clinical Practice. A Full-Day Presentation at the 1st Bruce Wine Memorial Conference, sponsored by the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Washington, DC.

Coburn, W. J. (2010). Psychoanalytic Complexity: Theoretical Innovation and Clinical Practice. A Full-Day Presentation to Le Group d’edtude sur L’intersubjectivite, Montreal, Canada.

Coburn, W. J. (2009, 2010). Psychoanalytic Complexity and The Forward Edge: It’s (Almost) All About Attitude. Paper presented at the 2009 International Conference on The Psychology of The Self, Chicago, IL and the 2010 Conference for the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, San Francisco, CA.

Coburn, W. J. (2009). Psychoanalytic Complexity. An invited all-day presentation at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, Spring, 2009.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Introduction to Panel One of James Fosshage’s Individuality Within A Systems World, Frank Lachmann’s My Individuality, My Self, and Robert Stolorow’s Individuality In Context, presented at the 31st Annual International Conference on The Psychology of The Self, Baltimore, MD.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Psychoanalytic Complexity. Full-day presentation given at the Istituto di Specializzazione in Psicologia Psicoanalitica del Se’ Psicoanalisi Relazionale, Rome, Italy.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Discussion of Pinato and Moia’s “Figures of Understanding: The Subjectivization Process of the Image. Paper presented at the Istituto di Specializzazione in Psicologia Psicoanalitica del Se’ Psicoanalisi Relazionale, Rome, Italy.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Psychoanalytic Complexity Theory: Expecting the Unexpected. Full-day presentation given at the Institute for the Advancement of Self Psychology (at Trinity College), Toronto, Canada.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Complexity Theory and Psychoanalysis. Full-day presentation at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center (at Oregon Health and Science University), Portland, OR.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Contexts of individuality: a discussion of James Fosshage’s Individuality Within A Systems World, Frank Lachmann’s My Individuality, My Self, and Robert Stolorow’s Individuality In Context, presented at the 31^st Annual International Conference on The Psychology of The Self, Baltimore, MD.

Coburn, W. J. (2008). Discussion of Loomis’ From Fog To Feeling: A Dynamic Contextualization of Dissociation: The Relational Requirement to Disappear. Paper presented at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis Open House, 2008.

Coburn, W. J. (2007). Complexity Made Simple: Exploring A Nonlinear Dynamic Systems Perspective. Plenary panel paper presented at the 30^th Annual International Conference on the Psychology of the Self. Los Angeles, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2007). Discussion of Elena Bonn’s “Turbulent Contexutualism: Bearing Complexity Toward Change.” Paper presented at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angles.

Coburn, W. J. (2005). Discussion of James L. Fosshage’s “The Explicit and Implicit Domains In Psychoanalytic Change.” PsyBC Online Colloquium moderated by Daniel Hill.

Coburn, W. J. (2005). Dissociations and Terminations in Psychoanalysis: A Discussion of Jody Messler Davies’ “Transformation of Desire and Despair: Termination and a Dissociative Model of Mind. Paper presented at the First IARPP European International Conference, Rome, Italy, 2005.

Coburn, W. J. (2005). Complexity Theory. An invited paper presented at the Northwestern Center for Psychoanalysis, Portland, Oregon.

Coburn, W. J. (2004). Complexity Theory, paper presented at the International Association of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Conference, Santa Monica, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2003). Contextualism and Countertransference. A discussion of Lawrence Green’s paper, “The Value of Hate in The Countertransference.” A paper presented at the 2003 Spring Meeting of The National Membership Committee on Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, Los Angeles.

Coburn, W. J. (2003). What Is A Weeble Anyway, and What Is A Wobble Too? A discussion of Phyllis DiAmbrosio’s paper, Weeble Wobbles: Resilience within the Psychoanalytic Situation. Presented at the 26^th Annual International Conference on The Psychology of The Self, Chicago, IL

Coburn, W. J. (2003). Contextualist Enaction: A discussion of Leslie Brothers’ paper, Doing and Experiencing: Contemporary Developments. Paper presented at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, in November, 2003.

Coburn, W. J. (2002). A world of systems: Complexity theory and therapeutic action. Paper presented at the 25^th Annual International Conference on The Psychology of The Self in Washington, D.C.

Coburn, W. J. (2001). Subjectivity, emotional resonance and the sense of the real. Paper presented at the Spring Meeting of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis), American Psychologist Association, New York, NY, 1999 and at the 22^nd Annual International Conference on The Psychology of The Self in Toronto, 1999.

Coburn, W. J. (2001). Contextualizing Control-Mastery Theory And Nonlinear Dynamic Systems Theory: A Response to Harold Sampson’s and Jeff Trop’s Discussions of Judith Pickles’ “We Were Alone Together: My Work with A Severely Traumatized Woman.” Paper presented at the 24^th Annual International Conference On The Psychology of The Self in San Francisco, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2001). Expectations and inferences: A discussion of Joseph Lichtenberg’s “Transference As Communication: The Language of the Body.” Paper presented at the 24^th Annual International Conference On The Psychology of The Self in San Francisco, California.

Coburn, W. J. (2000). I-Thou Relating and Selfobject Experiences: A Discussion of Barbara Engelman’s paper, The Unending Search for Love: On Narcissistic Parenting, Eating Disorders and the Double Bind. Paper presented at the March 2000 In-House Meeting, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles.

Coburn, W. J. (1999). Intersubjectivity Theory, Nonlinear Sensibility and Chronic Pain: A Discussion of Marilyn Jacobs’ Paper, A Case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain. Paper presented at the Spring Meeting of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis), American Psychological Association, New York, NY, 1999.

Coburn, W. J. (1999). Loss, greed and the pied piper: a discussion of the movie, The Sweet Hereafter, presented at the Southern California Psychoanalytic Institute.

Coburn, W. J. (with Howard, S. A.) (1999). Adolescence and Nonlinear Systems Theory: Reconceptualizing Developmental Theory and Approaches To Treatment. Paper presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the International Association of Adolescent Psychiatry in Provence, France.

Coburn, W. J. (1998). An instrument of possibilities: A discussion of Dorthy Levinson’s and George Atwood’s paper, “A Life of One’s Own: A Case Study of The Loss and Restoration of The Sense of Personal Agency.” Paper presented at the 1998 Conference of the Psychology of the Self, Chicago, IL.

Coburn, W. J. (1998). The Vision in Supervision. Paper presented at the American Academy of Psychoanalysis Conference, Scottsdale, AZ, 1998.

Coburn, W. J. (1998). Relatedness Theory In Self Psychology: A Discussion of Lester Lenoff’s “Original Intent: Countertransference, Relational Theory and Self Psychological Treatment.” Paper presented at the 21^st Annual Conference on The Psychology of The Self, San Diego, CA, 1998.

Coburn, W. J. (1997). Patient unconscious communication and analyst narcissistic vulnerability in the countertransference experience. Paper presented at the 1997 Conference on the Psychology of the Self, Washington, DC.