Episode 15 Maternal Ambivalence with Tracy Sidesinger | Psychoanalys & You| APsA Official Podcast

Psychoanalysis & You is the official podcast of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) about psychoanalysis and everyday life hosted by Dr. Gail Saltz.

In this episode, Dr. Tracy Sidesinger, a psychoanalytic psychologist based in New York, joins 'Psychoanalysis & You' to discuss the complexities of maternal subjectivity and ambivalence. Dr. Sidesinger integrates Jungian and relational approaches in her work to address the lost feminine, maternal subjectivity, traumatic memory, and community psychoanalysis. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that mothers are subjects with their own identities and transformations, even while caring for a child. The episode also delves into the concept of maternal ambivalence, explaining that having both positive and negative feelings towards a child is normal and essential for reflective and mindful caregiving. The discussion covers the impact of unconscious experiences on parenting, the role of societal expectations, and the benefits of expressive writing retreats. Dr. Sidesinger highlights the importance of maternal choice and the developmental phase of 'matrescence,' advocating for recognizing and supporting the intersubjective experiences of mothers.

Our Guest – Tracy Sidesinger, Psy.D.

Tracy Sidesinger, PsyD is a psychoanalytic psychologist bilocated between Brooklyn and Upstate New York. She integrates Jungian and Relational approaches to address transgenerational aspects of the lost feminine with individuals and couples in private practice. In 2024 she edited a special issue of the Taylor and Francis journal Psychoanalytic Perspectives dedicated to the topic of maternal subjectivity and its diverse applications. She regularly hosts expressive writing retreats for women that bridge psychoanalytic exploration with writerly craft to facilitate personal transformation outside the consulting room. In the past, she has served as representative to the Mental Health Liaison Group for the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), and as a board member for both the Museum of Motherhood in St. Petersburg, FL and the Jungian Association of Central Ohio (JACO) in Columbus, OH.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction of Dr. Tracy Sidesinger
00:50 Understanding Maternal Subjectivity
04:26 Exploring Maternal Ambivalence
17:05 The Concept of Choice in Motherhood
30:27 Balancing Connection and Separation
35:51 The Importance of Community and Support
42:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our Host

Dr. Gail Saltz is best known for her work as a relationship, family, emotional wellbeing, and mental health contributor in the media where she is a go-to expert for commentary on the mental health aspects of current/breaking issues and news. She is a bestselling author of numerous books. She serves on the public information committee for the American Psychoanalytic Association and for The Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. Dr. Saltz is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of medicine, a psychoanalyst with the New York Psychoanalytic Institute.