The Experience of Pregnancy for One Expectant Father and His Patient

Professional Development for the Mental Health Community

“The Experience of Pregnancy for One Expectant Father and His Patient”

James Wells, LCSW

Friday, March 13, 2026

6:30PM – 8:30PM (EDT)

PPSC

Live Webinar on Zoom

$60 Regular Admission and $40 Student

*This talk provides 2 hours of continuing education credits for LCSWs, LMSWs, LPs, LMHCs, LCATs, LMFTs, and licensed psychologists.

Whereas pregnancy in the analytic treatment space has been a topic of discussion in several articles in the psychoanalytic literature, it is most often from the perspective of the patient or the pregnant analyst. This presentation will focus on the experience of the non-carrying therapist whose partner is pregnant. A case discussion, highlighting the period of the work with a patient prior to the disclosure of the pregnancy, will be presented, as well as a review of prior analytic literature on pregnancy. The period of pregnancy is typically one of transformation that involves regression and a re-experiencing of events from early in one’s history. The result for this case is that when the patient and non-carrying analyst regress together, they co-create a more secure analytic attachment, deepening their work. Theoretical ideas concerning unconscious communication, telepathic dreams, and gestation are presented to help participants understand the unique experience of working as an expectant non-carrying analyst.

James Wells, LCSW, is a graduate of the four-year program in psychoanalysis at the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center, where he currently teaches, supervises, organizes the colloquium, and helped develop the one-year program for child and adolescent psychotherapy. The paper being presented was published in Contemporary Psychoanalysis in September 2025. A previous version won second prize for the Diana Siskind award for excellence in writing and was presented at the conference for the American Association of Psychoanalytic Clinical Social Workers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2021. James is in private practice in downtown Brooklyn, treating individuals and couples as well as children of all ages.

Learning Objectives

After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

• review and discuss traditional psychoanalytic literature regarding pregnancy in analytic treatment.
• analyze the unique experience of the non-carrying analyst, as well as some pertinent features of expectant fatherhood to allow participants to gain a better understanding of some general themes of this period.
• describe the shifting subjectivity of the analyst and how changes in the analyst’s personal life may be felt (non-consciously or consciously) in the intersubjective space that is shared with the patient. Participants will be presented with the turbulence these changes may cause, as well as their potential for generativity and growth in the analytic space.

Agenda

6:30 – 7:00: Introduction and overview. Discuss and review traditional psychoanalytic literature regarding pregnancy in analytic treatment. (LO#1)

7:00 – 7:30: Present the unique experience of the non-carrying analyst, as well as some pertinent features of expectant fatherhood. (LO#2)

7:30 – 8:00: Discuss the shifting subjectivity of the analyst and how changes in the analyst’s personal life may be felt (non-consciously or consciously) in the intersubjective space that is shared with the patient. (LO#3)

8:00 – 8:30: Q & A.

This event will be recorded. Those unable to attend live may register as usual and contact the Annex Program Manager at annex-ops@ppsc.org to request access. The recording will be available for two (2) weeks following the event.

You may still earn CE credit by watching the recording, provided that:

• The program is offered by an NYSED-approved provider for your specific license type, and;
• The recording is classified as a self-study course (i.e., there is no live interaction).

Under NYSED regulations, licensees may complete up to 12 hours of their required continuing education per registration period through self-study activities. The remaining hours must be obtained through live, interactive learning.

To be eligible to receive Continuing Education (CE) credits, participants must complete the post-event evaluation within this two-week period. Upon completion of the recording and required post-event evaluation, a CE certificate will be issued for qualifying participants.

*For a refund to a PPSC Annex event, we must receive a cancellation notice 24 hours prior to the event. Please contact annex-ops@ppsc.org if you want to cancel within this timeframe or if you have any other questions or concerns.

*Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts #P-0040, licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0166, licensed creative arts therapists #CAT-0083, and licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0119. We are recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0054 and by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0118. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center maintains responsibility for its programs and its content.

*PPSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, sexual preference, gender, gender identity, marital status, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admissions and educational policies.