Introduction to a new level of cooperation

In the Summer issue 84 of Contexts in 2019, we started publishing Group Analytic concepts, which had been initially collected for the Group Analytic Dictionary (GAD) from 2011 onward. This effort was made to make this work more available to GASi members. The work was undertaken mostly by an editorial group of four: Carmen O’Leary, Carla Penna, Rachel Chejanovsky and myself. The authors of the various concepts kindly agreed to update their work, where needed. Four concepts each year are published.

In this first issue of Contexts 2021, I’m proud to introduce you to a new landmark of exchange between the French Journal Group Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review and the Contexts GA concepts section. This cooperation was initiated by Edith Lecourt, Professor Emeritus of the University of Paris (Paris Descartes), clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, musician and music therapist and co-head of the Journal of Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy. She wanted me to select some group analytic concepts for publication in their Journal, and so I did. The first issue of the French Journal will contain Göran Ahlin’s outlining of the Matrix concept and in the autumn my outlining of Translation in Foulkes’ writings will follow. In exchange Edith’s outline of Didier Anzieus’s concept of the “psychic envelope” is included in this issue of Contexts with an introduction by Carla Penna. I hope this will be the beginning of a fruitful exchange between French and the English speaking group cultures.

Svein Tjelta
GAD Principal Editor
svtjelta@icloud.com