¿Por qué repetimos lo que nos hace padecer? - Miriam Bercovich

Opportunity for Professional Growth in Psychology

Overview of the Institution Fernando Uyoa

• The Institution Fernando Uyoa offers a significant opportunity for professional growth, having trained over 6,000 psychology professionals through its clinical postgraduate programs.

• The institution emphasizes rigorous and updated training in psychoanalysis to address current clinical issues.

Postgraduate Programs Offered

• Various specializations are available, including adult clinic, child clinic, adolescent clinic, psychosomatic phenomena, and family dynamics.

• Students will have the chance to attend patients referred by the institution either in-person in Buenos Aires or virtually from anywhere.

Clinical Practice and Support

• Clinical practice is supported with supervision from experienced psychoanalysts who have extensive backgrounds in both public hospitals and private sectors.

• The institution guarantees ongoing support throughout the training process, ensuring that students are not alone during their clinical practice.

Enrollment Information

• Enrollment is currently open for programs starting in April 2026. Students can choose specific areas of interest based on their professional orientation.

• The postgraduate programs are structured as biannual and annual courses covering various psychological topics relevant to modern practice.

Commitment to Excellence

• The Institution Fernando Uyoa prides itself on excellence and continuous support for its students throughout their educational journey.

Introduction to Clinical Training at Fernando Uyoa Institution

Overview of Clinical Programs

• The institution offers postgraduate programs focusing on various clinical issues, including psychosomatic phenomena, puberty, adolescence, and family dynamics.

• Students can attend patients either in-person in Buenos Aires or virtually, allowing flexibility regardless of location.

• The clinical practice is subsidized; students receive continuous support from experienced faculty members who are established psychoanalysts.

• The institution emphasizes rigorous and updated training in psychoanalysis to prepare professionals for current clinical challenges.

• Enrollment is open for programs starting in April 2026, with options tailored to specific clinical interests such as adult and child therapy.

Faculty Support and Professional Growth

• Faculty consists of renowned psychoanalysts with extensive experience in both public hospitals and private practice across Argentina.

• Over 6,000 psychology professionals have been trained through the institution's postgraduate programs, highlighting its reputation and effectiveness.

Engagement with the Audience

Introduction of the Session

• The session begins with a warm welcome from the host at Uyoa studio, expressing excitement about engaging with attendees from various locations.

• Dr. Miriam Berkovich is introduced as the speaker for the session; audience interaction is encouraged by asking where they are tuning in from.

Audience Participation

• Attendees respond from diverse regions including Rosario, Mendoza, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and more—showcasing a wide international presence.

• The host acknowledges contributions from participants across Latin America and Europe while humorously noting their vacation plans.

Institutional Goals and Structure

Mission Statement

• The Fernando Uyoa Institution focuses on two main areas: providing psychological treatment through clinical services and offering comprehensive training for future psychologists.

Mental Health as a Human Right

Overview of Services Offered

• The institution serves approximately 4,500 individuals across various demographics including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

• Emphasizes that mental health is a human right and should be accessible to everyone through community support.

Professional Training and Development

• Professionals at the institution receive daily training and supervision from postgraduate programs.

• Various academic activities are offered such as clinical workshops, conferences, and university collaborations aimed at enhancing clinical practice tools.

Focus on Clinical Workshop

• Today's workshop will specifically address the concept of repetition in psychoanalysis.

• Miriam Berkovich will provide insights based on her extensive experience in handling complex clinical cases related to this topic.

Introduction of Dr. Miriam Berkovich

Background and Expertise

• Dr. Miriam Berkovich has over 30 years of clinical and academic experience in psychoanalysis.

• She teaches at the Fernando Uyoa institution and is involved with the Hospital Ameguino's postgraduate program.

Importance of Repetition in Psychoanalysis

• The issue of repetition is highlighted as a common yet complex challenge within current clinical practices.

• It often transcends the pleasure principle where verbal communication may not suffice for intervention strategies.

Engagement with Participants

Interactive Session Details

• Participants are encouraged to take notes during the session for an interactive Q&A segment towards the end.

• A raffle will be held for live participants as part of promoting ongoing education within the institution.

Understanding Repetition in Psychoanalysis

The Role of the Interlocutor

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of having an interlocutor in psychoanalytic discourse, highlighting the supportive role of institutions like Uyoa in maintaining psychoanalytic discussions centered on human freedom.

Exploring Repetition and Suffering

• The speaker questions why individuals repeatedly engage in behaviors that lead to suffering, noting that such repetition is a unique aspect of human nature rather than a natural occurrence.

• Freud's clinical observations reveal that humans often seek their own ruin, challenging the notion that happiness is the primary goal of life.

Key Concepts: Death Drive and Guilt

• Two fundamental axes of repetition are identified: the death drive and guilt. The death drive does not equate to a desire for death but represents a deeper psychological compulsion.

• Guilt is described as an unconscious feeling that paradoxically drives individuals toward self-destruction, complicating their understanding of personal suffering.

Ignorance and Destiny

• The speaker discusses how ignorance plays a crucial role in human experience; people often perceive their suffering as fate imposed from outside rather than recognizing their involvement.

• Freud's perspective on destiny links it to paternal figures, suggesting that as divine influences recede from nature, moral authority becomes associated with paternal functions.

Functions Beyond Gender

• The discussion clarifies that concepts like "father" or "mother" refer to functions rather than gendered roles, emphasizing the diversity within these functions across different identities.

• This shift away from biological determinism towards understanding sexuality through language and identification reflects significant advancements in psychoanalytic thought.

Seeking Knowledge Through Analysis

• Patients often express frustration over their lack of understanding regarding their issues; this ignorance leads them to seek analysis for clarity.

• Psychoanalysis serves as a space for knowledge production where patients can explore their experiences with guidance from an analyst, fostering intimate connections during sessions.

Understanding Subjective Spaces and Guilt

The Nature of Patient Experiences

• Patients often experience terror related to hypochondria, feeling that no clinical reassurance can alleviate their fears of death.

• A significant number of these patients grapple with feelings of guilt, which is a major aspect of subjective life. This guilt stems from a perceived failure to meet the expectations of others.

The Concept of Guilt in Psychoanalysis

• Guilt is linked to the idea of being at fault with others; it reflects a conflict between personal desires and societal expectations.

• Freud's notion suggests that this guilt has an "incestuous root," indicating that fulfilling one's desires often conflicts with familial or societal norms, leading to feelings of culpability.

Clinical Observations on Success and Failure

• Some patients exhibit a pattern where they fail despite achieving success, as discussed in Freud's 1916 article on characters illuminated by psychoanalytic experience. These individuals struggle to tolerate their successes, resulting in self-sabotage.

Subjective Constitution in Psychoanalysis

• The subject within psychoanalysis is defined as one who communicates through language; humans are seen as exiled from nature due to this linguistic development. This loss leads to confusion about desires and instincts.

• Unlike animals guided by instinct (e.g., lions hunting), humans navigate complex social constructs that obscure their natural inclinations toward satisfaction and fulfillment.

Lacanian Perspectives on Subjectivity

• Lacan presents a model where the subject loses its natural essence upon entering the realm of representations and significations shaped by others' perceptions (the "Other"). This process creates a fragmented sense of self rather than a unified identity.

• The infant's identity begins forming through external perceptions before birth, influenced by parental expectations and societal roles, leading to an inherent loss tied to these constructed identities.

Loss and Representation

• The transition into the world of representations results in the loss of direct connection with nature and instinctual satisfaction; this absence manifests as feelings of lack or incompleteness within individuals throughout their lives.

Understanding Desire and Insatisfaction

The Nature of Desire

• The speaker discusses the concept of permanent dissatisfaction linked to desire and instinct, suggesting that humans are condemned to this state.

• Desire is portrayed as a fundamental driving force stemming from a lack, which is irreducible and compels individuals to seek fulfillment in the world.

Borges' Influence

• Borges is introduced as a significant Argentine writer whose work transcends national boundaries; he articulates complex psychological themes in an engaging manner.

• A specific poem by Borges titled "Nostalgia del Presente" illustrates the radical sense of loss and longing inherent in human experience.

The Role of Maternal Ascent

• The discussion shifts to Lacan's mirror stage, where a child seeks affirmation from the mother, desiring her love for both their ideal self and their true self.

• This maternal assent legitimizes the child's existence beyond mere reflection, allowing them to embrace their inherent lack without guilt.

Navigating Existence

• Two critical elements emerge: recognizing radical lack within representation systems and receiving validation that frees one from guilt associated with not being an ideal for others.

• The pursuit of total satisfaction is framed as an impossible quest; one must accept that experiences will always carry some emptiness.

Implications of Captivity in Meaning

• When individuals become trapped by singular meanings or scenes, it can lead to existential horror; understanding this allows for analytical perspectives on human behavior.

• The tension between life’s desires and the inevitability of death highlights how pursuing absolute satisfaction can lead to destructive outcomes rather than enriching experiences.

Understanding the Death Drive in Psychoanalysis

The Concept of the Death Drive

• The death drive is not a desire to die but rather a component of human drives that seeks to cancel tension. It contrasts with desire, which renews and creates cravings.

• Freud posits that part of the subject seeks destruction as a way to address an inherent lack, aspiring for total satisfaction that is ultimately unattainable due to our initial loss upon entering the world.

• Every drive yearns for satisfaction, indicating that all drives contain an element of the death drive; however, this does not equate to wanting to die. This complex concept is central yet challenging within psychoanalysis.

Patient Perspectives in Psychoanalysis

• Patients often feel imposed destinies and may believe they are responsible for their circumstances. It's crucial to respect their experiences without attributing blame or responsibility.

• A notable quote from Seminar 7 emphasizes that patients seek analysts to understand how their lives are intertwined with deeper psychological structures (the "super").

Challenges in Therapy

• Working with certain patients requires patience as they may struggle with spontaneous expression and need time to engage in free association.

• These patients often produce little unconscious formations like dreams or lapses, making it difficult to construct narratives from their histories.

Constructing Meaning through Language

• Freud's construction method involves forming hypotheses based on logical deductions rather than delusions, providing value even if events did not occur as described.

• Language plays a critical role in allowing subjects to avoid impulsive actions; it provides clarity and light amidst confusion, enabling individuals to articulate fears and anxieties.

Case Study: A Patient's Journey

• The speaker recounts a patient’s background marked by marginalization and familial challenges, including an indifferent father and a hardworking mother who struggled financially.

• Despite overcoming significant obstacles such as bullying and completing her education, the patient feels unable to pursue her career aspirations due to deep-seated anxieties about societal expectations.

Understanding Maternal Influence and Guilt

The Complexity of Maternal Relationships

• The speaker discusses the inherent guilt associated with familial dynamics, particularly regarding maternal relationships. This guilt often stems from a perceived betrayal of family logic.

• It is emphasized that the concept of "mother" is subjective; individuals refer to their own experiences rather than an objective reality. Misunderstanding this can lead to significant clinical and ethical issues.

• The analysis focuses on the individual's experience with their mother, which may differ vastly from others' perceptions. Recognizing this distinction is crucial in therapeutic settings.

Experience vs. Knowledge in Therapy

• The speaker highlights that therapy produces a practical understanding ("saber hacer") rather than mere knowledge, emphasizing its role as a life tool.

• Patients often express frustration over repetitive discussions in therapy, but these repetitions are part of a deeper emotional process involving transference and psychic inertia.

Navigating Guilt and Identity

• A case study illustrates a patient grappling with her identity while cleaning houses, feeling guilty for distancing herself from her mother's legacy.

• This guilt reflects an internal struggle between personal aspirations and familial expectations, complicating her sense of self-worth.

Symbolic Debt and Therapeutic Relationships

• The notion of symbolic debt arises; patients may not feel they owe anything to their parents despite being loved. This dynamic can be explored within the therapeutic relationship.

• An analyst can help patients construct this symbolic debt by encouraging them to pursue lives they desire, thus facilitating personal growth.

Exploring Anger and Its Roots

Case Study: Theft and Emotional Turmoil

• Another patient struggles with stealing small amounts from work while simultaneously pursuing higher education but feels overwhelmed by anger and frustration.

• His awareness of potential consequences does not deter his actions, indicating deeper emotional conflicts at play.

Understanding Anger as a Psychological Element

• Anger is linked to death drives; it manifests both internally (as aggression towards oneself) and externally (as aggression towards others).

• Exploring the origins of anger reveals patterns tied to childhood experiences, suggesting that unresolved feelings can significantly impact adult behavior.

The Struggles of Idealism and Self-Help

The Burden of Being an Ideal

• Individuals often feel pressured to meet unrealistic ideals, leading to frustration in various activities like sports or academics.

• This pressure can stem from a deep-seated need for validation and perfectionism, which may hinder personal expression and participation.

The Popularity of Self-Help Books

• Self-help literature is prevalent in bookstores, often dominating the shelves despite mixed effectiveness.

• Many self-help books contain insightful ideas but fail to produce lasting change due to their superficial nature, akin to hypnosis.

Limitations of Quick Fixes

• Just as hypnosis provides temporary relief without addressing underlying issues, self-help strategies often lack depth and require significant personal effort for true transformation.

• Effective change necessitates a long-term commitment rather than quick fixes offered by self-help tips or exercises.

Understanding Suicidal Thoughts

• Freud's perspective suggests that suicidal actions are often directed towards others rather than oneself; individuals may seek to harm someone else through their own demise.

• Feelings of inadequacy stemming from familial relationships can lead individuals to experience shame and abandonment issues, complicating their emotional landscape.

The Role of Psychoanalysis

• Psychoanalysts must navigate complex emotions with sensitivity, recognizing that feelings of inadequacy are tied deeply to personal histories and relationships.

• It’s crucial for analysts to create a safe space where patients can explore these feelings without judgment or moralization about their circumstances.

Coping Mechanisms and Resistance

• Patients may engage in self-sabotaging behaviors as a means of coping with unresolved emotional conflicts; this includes risking stability in various aspects of life such as education or relationships.

• A common sentiment expressed is "me da paja," reflecting a desire for withdrawal from the world—a form of escapism that parallels autoerotic practices like masturbation. This highlights the struggle against engaging with reality and confronting desires or insufficiencies directly.

Importance of Therapeutic Engagement

• Establishing regular therapeutic sessions is vital; it reinforces the importance of dialogue over bureaucratic scheduling, enhancing patient engagement with their treatment process.

• Analysts should be proactive in inviting patients back promptly, emphasizing the significance of timely communication within therapy sessions as part of building trust and rapport.

Freud's Revolutionary Insights on Human Behavior

The Nature of Human Desire and Repetition

• Freud posited that individuals do not inherently seek happiness; rather, they often gravitate towards their own ruin. This perspective challenges traditional views on human motivation.

• Many people exhibit repetitive behaviors throughout their lives, seemingly trapped by an unyielding fate. A deeper investigation reveals that these individuals may unknowingly set themselves up for such outcomes.

• The concept of "unknowing" is crucial; it suggests a lack of awareness in how one's actions contribute to their life trajectory.

Freedom and Psychoanalysis

• Psychoanalysis should empower patients with the freedom to make choices, rather than being seen as an omnipotent force that dictates behavior. This highlights the importance of personal agency in therapeutic settings.

• An illustrative case involved a patient whose lifelong jealousy led to significant distress. Her ability to choose whether to act on her impulses marked a pivotal moment in her therapy journey.

The Role of Interpretation in Psychoanalysis

• The discussion transitions into the role of interpretation within psychoanalytic practice, emphasizing its metaphorical structure and the necessity for understanding multiple meanings behind a patient's words.

• Effective psychoanalytic intervention relies on interpreting the patient's narrative while acknowledging that meaning is not singular but multifaceted.

Challenges in Patient Communication

• Patients often struggle with articulating their thoughts due to feelings of guilt or mutism, which can hinder progress in therapy.

• Analysts must navigate these challenges by making conjectures based on limited information provided by patients who are stuck in repetitive narratives.

Conclusion: Embracing Complexity in Therapy

• The therapeutic process involves accepting failure as part of growth. Patients need to be willing to explore uncomfortable truths about themselves without fear of judgment or error.

Understanding Anger and Its Roots

The Nature of Anger

• Anger is often directed towards others, but it stems from deeper, unconscious sources rather than immediate relationships.

• It is crucial to recognize that anger may not be about the person we think it is directed at; instead, it can relate to unresolved issues with significant figures in one's past.

Historical Context of Anger

• Exploring historical contexts can reveal repressed anger linked to childhood experiences or parental relationships, such as violence or unexpressed desires.

• Understanding that anger projected onto a partner may actually originate from complex feelings about parental figures helps in deconstructing these emotions.

Deconstructing Relationships

• Analyzing the multifaceted nature of parental figures allows individuals to see both positive and negative traits, which aids in processing their emotions more holistically.

• This breakdown enables individuals to disassemble their feelings of anger and understand its true origins.

The Concept of Debt in Psychoanalysis

Symbolic Debt

• In psychoanalysis, individuals are seen as having a symbolic debt to their parents for giving them life and desiring a good future for them.

• A personal anecdote illustrates this concept: a child prioritizes health due to an implicit understanding that failing to do so would disappoint their mother.

Renewal of Debt

• This symbolic debt is renewed through relationships with children or students, where the desire for well-being continues across generations.

Complications in Relationships

• Some individuals face complicated histories that hinder their ability to acknowledge this debt due to challenging emotional ties with parents.

Repetition and Its Implications

The Role of Repetition

• Questions arise regarding whether individuals can avoid falling into repetitive patterns throughout life; the consensus suggests that repetition is inevitable.

Individual Styles in Analysis

• Both Freud and Lacan provided frameworks for analysis but emphasized individual styles; analysts should adapt methods based on each unique case.

Awareness and Change

• While awareness of one’s patterns is essential, change requires recognizing how these repetitions influence current behaviors.

This structured approach provides clarity on key concepts discussed within the transcript while allowing easy navigation through timestamps for further exploration.

Understanding the Role of Commitment in Psychoanalysis

The Nature of Symptoms and Repetition

• The discussion begins with the idea that falling into a symptom is not merely about experiencing it but rather how commitment to the subject can lead to being stuck.

• It is emphasized that repetition can become a labyrinth without exit, indicating the complexity of symptoms in psychoanalytic practice.

• There are numerous questions left unanswered regarding clinical issues and theoretical aspects, highlighting the importance of direct communication with educators for clarity.

Communication and Support Channels

• Participants are encouraged to reach out directly to Miriam for any inquiries related to her teachings or patient referrals, emphasizing personal engagement.

• Contact information is provided for academic support through Instagram and email, ensuring participants have access to necessary resources.

Closing Remarks on Psychoanalysis

• Miriam's closing remarks reflect on psychoanalysis as an experience that transcends mere psychotherapy, suggesting it offers existential opportunities for freedom amidst societal pressures.

• She contrasts inspiring ideals with oppressive ones, advocating for individuality within psychoanalytic discourse as a means of liberation.

Acknowledgments and Future Engagement

• The host expresses gratitude towards Miriam for her insightful presentation and encourages participants to follow her on social media for further engagement.

• The session concludes with acknowledgments from both parties, marking a successful inaugural event.

Sorteo: Engaging Participants Through Prizes

Prize Announcement Details

• The host announces an upcoming prize draw where participants can win books related to today's topics by simply typing "sorteo" in the live chat.

• Three specific titles are mentioned as prizes: Freud's complete works volume 18, a seminar on fundamental concepts of psychoanalysis, and Gabriel Raqui's work on analytic clinic.

Sorteo y Premios en el Taller Clínico

Participación en el Sorteo

• Los participantes deben escribir la palabra "sorteo" para participar. Catalina, del equipo técnico, se encargará de realizar el sorteo y enviar los nombres de los ganadores al presentador.

• Los premios serán enviados a las casas de los ganadores que residan en Argentina, sin importar su ubicación dentro del país.

Proceso de Validación

• Los ganadores deben enviar una captura de pantalla que demuestre que son usuarios de YouTube al correo info@institucionoa.com.ar o a través de Instagram @inst. Esto es necesario porque YouTube no permite enviar mensajes directos.

• Si hay dificultades para gestionar la validación, se ofrece asistencia para ayudar a los ganadores con el proceso.

Anuncio de Ganadores

• Se están sorteando tres premios:

• Tomo 18 de Sigmund Freud.

• Seminario 11 de Lacan: "Los cuatro conceptos fundamentales del psicoanálisis".

• "Clínica analítica de la repetición entre lógica y poesía".

Primer Ganador

• El primer premio (Tomo 18 de Sigmund Freud) fue ganado por Jimena Castillón 1870. Ella debe contactar al equipo para coordinar el envío del libro. Felicitaciones a Jimena por su victoria.

Segundo Ganador

• Ivo Barraza ganó el seminario 11 de Lacan sobre los cuatro conceptos fundamentales del psicoanálisis. Al igual que Jimena, debe comunicarse con el equipo para recibir su premio. Felicitaciones a Ivo también.

Tercer Ganador

• Valeria Costa 2830 es la tercera ganadora, quien recibió "Clínica analítica de la repetición entre lógica y poesía". Debe seguir el mismo procedimiento para coordinar su premio. Felicitaciones a Valeria por participar y ganar.

Agradecimientos Finales

• Se agradece a todos los participantes por asistir al taller clínico donde se presentó un nuevo estudio Uyoa con una disertación destacada por Miriam Berkovic, resaltando la alegría del evento pese al calor veraniego en Buenos Aires.