Bristol, CFAR/Bristol University, Clinical Structures, Culture, mental health, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, talking treatment, Therapy
CFAR & Bristol University Lecture – May 16th 2026 – Luca Bosetti on ASD, ADHD and Neurodiversity
CFAR in association with Bristol University
Luca Bosetti on ASD, ADHD and Neurodiversity
CFAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRISTOL UNIVERSITY 2025/26
The third seminar of the series will focus in particular on the question of diagnosis and examine the differences between psychiatric diagnosis, psychoanalytic diagnosis and the phenomenon of self-diagnosis which has currently become prevalent within the neurodiversity movement. Considering some famous cases of both unquestionable and questionable diagnoses of autism – including the animal scientist Temple Grandin and the pianist Glenn Gould – the seminar will illustrate how key psychoanalytic concepts like identification, psychical causality and symbol-formation remain essential resources for clinicians who want to find their bearing when working with patients who present symptoms associated with ADHD or AS
Venue: Please note new venue (no longer at the Merchant Venturers Building!): Room 1.06, Queens Building, University Walk, Clifton BS8 1TR
Please address enquiries to
Conor McCormack at cmccormack16@gmail.com
Bristol, CFAR/Bristol University, Counselling, mental health, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, talking treatment, Therapy
CFAR & BRISTOL UNIVERSITY ASD, ADHD and Neurodiversity With Kristina Valendinova Saturday February 21, 2026
CFAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRISTOL UNIVERSITY 2025/26
ASD, ADHD and Neurodiversity
With rising diagnoses of ASD and ADHD in most countries around the world, can psychoanalysis contribute anything to the understanding of both social and clinical aspects of this changing landscape? These seminars will examine the place of ASD and ADHD in contemporary discourse and discuss psychoanalytic conceptualisations, showing their relevance to both clinical work and to research on themes such as attention, sensory sensitivity and communication.
With Kristina Valendinova
Saturday February 21, 2026
10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Registration: 10.00 am on the day
Kristina Valendinova is a practicing analyst, member of CFAR and of the Cercle Freudien in Paris.
Book Tickets Here:
Venue: Merchant Venturers Building, Room 1.11
Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB
Please address enquiries to
Conor McCormack at cmccormack16@gmail.com
Upcoming CFAR speakers for 2026
Luca Bosetti
May 16, 2026
Bristol, CFAR/Bristol University, Clinical Structures, Culture, mental health, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, talking treatment, Therapy
28/01/23 CFAR Bristol Lectures: An Introduction to the Imaginary, the Symbolic and the Real – Christos Tombras
CFAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRISTOL UNIVERSITY 2023
An Introduction to the Imaginary, the Symbolic and the Real
(Or was it the other way around?)
Speaker: Christos Tombras
Christos Tombras is a supervising psychoanalyst with a Lacanian orientation, practising in London. He lectures, runs workshops and facilitates reading groups; his main research interest is in a dialogue between continental philosophy and psychoanalysis.
No prior knowledge of Lacan is assumed and the seminars will all include clinical examples involving the kind of problems and questions common to diverse currents in contemporary psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
Book Tickets Here: www.eventbrite.com/e/an-introduction-to-the-imaginary-the-symbolic-and-the-real-tickets-486787934817
Bristol University staff & students: free admittance
Venue: Merchant Venturers Building, Room 1.11
Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB
Date: Saturday 28 January 2023
Time: 10am – 12 midday
Registration: 9.30am on the day
Please address enquiries to
Conor McCormack at cmccormack16@gmail.com
Kurt Lampe at clkwl@bristol.ac.uk
Bristol, CFAR/Bristol University, Clinical Structures, Culture, Freud, mental health, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, talking treatment, Therapy
Public Lecture 26 11 2022 – CFAR & Bristol University ‘Who Am I?’ Psychoanalysis and Identity with Astrid Gessert
The Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research and Bristol University
Public Lecture Series 2022/2023
‘Who Am I?’ – Psychoanalysis and Identity with Astrid Gessert
Astrid Gessert is a psychoanalyst and a member of CFAR and of the
College of Psychoanalysts-UK. She has worked in the NHS, in
private practice and as a supervisor. She contributes regularly to the
CFAR public lecture and training programme and lectures and
facilitates seminars at other psychoanalytic organisations. She has
written articles and edited books on psychoanalytic concepts and
obsessional neurosis.
No prior knowledge of Lacan is assumed and the seminars will all
include clinical examples involving the kind of problems and
questions common to diverse currents in contemporary
psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
Attendance Fee: £15; students £10 (cash only) staff and students
at Bristol University free admittance.
Venue: Merchant Venturers Building, Room 1.11
Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB
Date: Saturday, November 26, 2022
Time: 10am – 12 midday
Registration: 9.30am on the day
Please address enquiries to
Conor McCormack at cmccormack16@gmail.com
Kurt Lampe at clkwl@bristol.ac.uk
Darian Leader, mental health, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, talking treatment, Therapy
Psychoanalyst Darian Leader on the Covid-19 Pandem
–[Read the full article here on the Huffington Post Site]
“I see a lot of people during the lockdown finding isolation more positive than negative in the sense that they want to have space of their own. Again, the socio-economic factors have to be recognised here. For most people in the world, a lockdown doesn’t mean being on your own because you are in a small place with a lot of other people. You might be living in one room with your family or people that you work with, so it’s only a privilege for some to be able to retreat. In terms of my practice, though, a lot of people say they find the lockdown a great relief.”