It is a privilege to be the incoming President of the International Council for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology (Paul Ornstein will hand me the gavel at the beginning of our next meeting in November). I thank the members of the Council, once again, for their trust and confidence. I extend my deep appreciation to Jules Miller, M.D., who served as Chair of the Council for a number of years, to Joseph Lichtenberg, M.D., who was the first elected President, and to Paul Ornstein, M.D., who is the second and outgoing President, each for their commendable efforts and achievements in overseeing and guiding the Council over the years.

These are exciting times of change for self psychology and psychoanalysis. The dramatic, yet gradual and arduous, paradigm shift from intrapsychic to relational field models continues to be developed and integrated, powerfully affecting psychoanalytic theories and practice. Contemporary self psychological theories, which have become fully relational models, have been in the forefront of these developments. While the Council, of course, is especially interested in furthering the development and dissemination of self psychological ideas, it recognizes - for example, through an emphasis on comparative psychoanalysis in annual conferences - that self psychology is embedded within a psychoanalytic landscape of pluralistic models. Indeed, self psychology with its emphasis on selfhood and the uniqueness of subjective experience provides theoretical underpinnings for the existence of pluralistic models that, in part, are expressions of different subjectivities.

In addition to theoretical change, important developments are in process in the organization and publication of self psychological ideas. With vision, energy and enthusiasm, Allen Siegel, M.D., has expanded our Website (www.psychologyoftheself.com) into an interactive online eJournal to facilitate communication and to enhance dialogue and mutual exploration of ideas. Communication over the web is extensive in scope, international in "reach," and minimal in cost. The editorship of Progress in Self Psychology has recently changed. On behalf of the Council I express appreciation and gratitude to Arnold Goldberg, M.D., Volumes 1-18, and Mark Gehrie, Ph.D., Volume 19, for their prodigious editorial work. The editorial mantle has now passed on to William Coburn, Ph.D., with his first book, Volume 20, slated for November. Also with vision, energy and enthusiasm, Bill has pulled together a capable Editorial Board and in a bold first step has negotiated to add Progress to the select list of psychoanalytic journals on the PEP CD-ROM ARCHIVES. To have Progress included in the PEP ARCHIVES will significantly enhance awareness and readership of our journal. Moreover, authors will now be assured that their work will be available not only to self psychologists, but to the psychoanalytic community at large. Under his stewardship, Bill will bring a new emphasis on comparative psychoanalysis, comparing self psychological ideas from within self psychology and from other psychoanalytic perspectives.

I am very pleased to announce that the Council has approved the establishment of a new membership organization, the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology (IAPSP). Membership is open to all professionals interested in self psychological ideas and their advancement. IAPSP will provide valuable avenues for affiliation, participation and networking with colleagues. Because the Council will soon vote on the particulars, I cannot discuss the details at this time except to say that the Council will become the governing executive body of IAPSP and new members to the Council gradually will be democratically elected by the membership. Membership will be listed on the eJournal for purposes of networking and referrals (replacing the Roster).

Much is happening, excitement is in the air, and self psychology is vital. I invite you to become actively involved and I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.