The Brisbane Self Psychology Group first took form in early 2002. In contrast to other Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane has long-suffered from a dearth of trained self psychologists, and a total absence of any related psychoanalytic training programs. Those interested in training have had to seek long-distance supervision and training with analysts living in other cities. Two such therapists, Tony Wild and Giac Giacomantonio, began the Brisbane Self Psychology Group to promote discussion of, and interest in, psychoanalytic self psychology.

The Brisbane Self Psychology Group currently has a mailing list of 33, which includes practitioners and students of various mental health disciplines. The Group holds regular monthly meetings to discuss the central works of the psychology of the self, beginning, of course, with the papers of Heinz Kohut. In typical psychoanalytic manner, the desire for increased frequency of meetings soon developed, and there are currently plans for long-term, detailed study of the three Kohut books in weekly discussions. The Group intends to invite noted self psychologists as guest presenters, and was honoured to have its first Psychoanalysis Seminar presented by ex-Chicago Melbournian, Dr. Ronald R. Lee, in May 2002. The Group also has plans to develop a core library of self-psychological texts for the use of students and practitioners in the Brisbane area.

The Brisbane Self Psychology Group can be contacted at giac@psychiatry.uq.edu.au or twild@hotlinks.net.au.