The Analyst's Advocate
Advocating for psychoanalysis in the popular print media
Writing for the print and electronic media is one way to increase public awareness of the benefits of psychoanalysis. But, how does one select a suitable topic? How does one create articles with broad public appeal? How does one effectively pursue publication? What are some of the benefits of these efforts? Each will be addressed in turn.
Selecting a topic with broad public appeal
Select a topic with which you have considerable interest and expertise. Consider one of your adjuvant professional interests or your favorite avocation. An artist might write about art and a policy wonk about politics. Choose a topic with broad, appeal. For example, topics such as, dating, marriage, commitment, divorce, exercise, dieting, parenting, politics, T.V. violence, image and work may sustain general interest.
Since many people find the topic of psychoanalysis very threatening, it is important to introduce analytic understandings very gradually and only after establishing credibility with editors and readers. One way to establish credibility and to build readership is to write broad-based articles that address the everyday psychological aspects of an issue. It is important, to focus on every day life, and not to pathologize.
For example, in writing about dieting and exercise, one might address the psychological benefits of normal dieting and exercise. In the initial articles for a publication, the writer might make only brief mention of dieting and exercise gone awry. Once several articles have been well-received, the writer might gradually shift, to a more analytic focus,and examine the psychodynamics underlying eating-disordered behavior.
There are many psychoanalytic concepts of great interest to the lay personâ and, describing and elaborating these concepts in lay terms can be very useful. For example, since every behavior can be understood as a compromise formation, the writer might apply this concept as it relates to their topic. That is, in writing about relationships, one might examine why some individuals consistently make choices that lead to misery. A few sentences about how and why analysis might be helpful in such a situation will provide an important public service.
Getting your articles published
You have selected a topic. You have planned a series of articles. How do
you get published in the popular media? There are many different strategies
that you might pursue. First, consider the readers whom you might like to
reach. What publications do they read? Review these publications. How long
are the articles? How are they written? Where might your work be
incorporated? Do you want to be paid for your efforts, or is the increased
visibility, for yourself and the institute, enough compensation? The
answers to these questions will dictate the strategy that you select. Here
are some possible methods:
- Generate a series of articles, and post them on your web site. List your
site with the major search engines, and publishers may come to you.
- Directly contact organizations that might be interested in your topic,
and invite them to link to your web site.
- Submit your articles, directly, to the editors of magazines and
newspapers that publish similar pieces.
Submit your articles to the newsletters of adjacent professional groups.
For example, if you write on eating and exercise, you could offer to write a
column in a newsletter written for dieticians or health club members.
Parenting columns could be published in a newsletter for parents without
partners, and articles on dating could be published in the newsletters of
singles clubs.
- Participate in listservs where people share your interest, in the topic
about which you write. When the topic is addressed, reference your own web
site.
- Participate on electronic message boards, such as those on ivillage. If
you are consistent in your participation, the editors will see your work and
you may be invited to play a more formal role.
Your decision as to whether you seek compensation will dictate which
strategies you may consider. Many publications can not afford to pay
free-lancers. If this is the case, consider bartering, ask for
advertisement space for our clinic, in exchange for your copy.
Benefits derived from writing
There are many benefits of writing for the popular media, for both you and for our institute. Your efforts will culminate in public speaking engagements, visibility and referral. You will have helped to demystify psychoanalysis â and, you will take the first steps toward familiarizing people to the helpfulness of our profession. This type of exposure ultimately may attract students, candidates and philanthropists who in turn might collaborate with us in our efforts to secure a future for psychoanalysis.
This column was first published in the February 2001 newsletter of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Lynn Friedman began writing for the popular media in 1999. Writing for the Washington Post interactive site, she served as their work-life expert, wrote columns and hosted a monthly online show, "Surviving and thriving at life and work". She served as a columnist for Washingtonjobs.com, a print magazine, and a subsidiary of the Washington Post. She is on the practitioner faculty at Johns Hopkins University and the faculty at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. Currently, she writes a monthly column, on applied psychoanalysis, Corporations on the Couch, for the Washington Business Journal. She has a full-time analytic practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland where she specializes in work-life (career) concerns.
(c) 2001 Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.
Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. practices in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She can be reached at: (301) 656-9650. She welcomes your input and feedback. Please note, this material is copyrighted and may not be cited without proper attribution.
