News

We are saddened by the death of Stuart Plummer, Ph.D. on December 15, 2021, as reported in the Denver Post on December 21, 2021.

Familiarly known as Stu Plummer, Dr. Plummer received a PhD, in theological studies from Princeton University. In 1960, Stu Plummer created the Department of Pastoral Education and Care at Presbyterian Medical Center in Denver and served in various leadership roles including being a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor of CPE students.

Dr. Plummer studied alongside psychoanalytic candidates and received a diploma in Applied Psychoanalytic Studies in 1981 from the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis.

At Presbyterian, Stu created a psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, role-responsive, non-denominational framework for the work of the chaplaincy students. These students on the front lines of care applied these concepts to their work with injured and dying patients and families in the emergency room and hospital floors.

Dr. Mary Ann Levy whom Dr. Plummer recruited to provide psychoanalytic/psychiatric consultation for the chaplaincy students, recalled her experiences with Stu, his students and the program: “I worked with many chaplains over nearly twenty years in a case discussion group and found their skills exemplary as a result of Stu Plummer and his colleagues. It was an honor to work with him in classes as we discussed complex medical, psychiatric and emotional needs. He left a legacy of many compassionate and competent pastoral counselors and was an impressive person who generated skilled chaplains who understood and utilized psychoanalytic principles where relevant.”

Stu was active in the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and served in Regional Director and Interim Executive Director roles. He was awarded the ACPE 2001 Distinguished Service Award for his contributions and leadership as an ACPE Supervisor.

After retiring from chaplaincy training, he had a private practice in Denver. In his spare time, Stu enjoyed reading, listening to music, watching sports, skiing, fishing, hiking with family, playing basketball, squash, and tennis. He loved to sing and will be remembered for his beautiful voice.

Stu was preceded in death by his parents F. Arnold and Phebe S. Plummer and his wife Maxine (Glaz). He is survived by his wife Agnes Bourne; his former wife Sally; his children (with Sally) Sarah (Lisa) Davis, David, and Nancy; his stepdaughter Rachel Walaskay and step-granddaughters Kylie Squires and Sara Squires.

A private graveside service for family is planned for the spring or early summer. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to a charity of your choice in his name.

Click here to read the Obituary from Denver Post & Legacy.com

At the 2021 Institute Annual Banquet and Graduation, the graduates from 2020 were recognized and certificates were awarded to Kelly Crim, LPC, Amanda Hutchison, MD, Rachel Louden, LCSW, Sangeeta Patel, MD, and Jeanne Theobald, MD for their completion of the Adult Analytic Program.   

Amanda Hutchison, MD also graduated from the Child & Adolescent Analytic Program.

The Analytic program consists of four years of post-graduate didactic training which is based on a tri-part model with three complimentary learning experiences:  a personal analysis, theoretical and clinical seminars, and supervised psychoanalytic work.

Congratulations!

Dr. William Bernstein was the consummate physician, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. He was dedicated to psychoanalysis, education, his patients, his colleagues, and the many students whom he has mentored over the years. Until the very end of his life, he was constantly sought out as a teacher, supervisor, and consultant.

Bill completed his undergraduate education at the University of Minnesota in 1955. He went on to complete his medical education, also at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1959. After receiving his medical degree, he and his wife Paula moved to Los Angeles for a rotating internship at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital where their son was born. Following his internship, Bill and his family came to Colorado for psychiatric residency. In the middle of his second year, Bill was suddenly drafted into the army. He served two years as a psychiatrist at Tripler Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then returned to complete his psychiatric residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1965. Bill immediately joined the full-time faculty at the University of Colorado Department of Psychiatry, working with Brandt Steele in the Psychiatric Liaison Division. He eventually became head of this Division, serving as its Director from 1973-1984.

During this time, he also completed his Psychoanalytic Training at the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis, graduating in 1976. Bill was appointed to the position of Training and Supervising Analyst in 1986, continuing to supervise, teach, and mentor psychoanalytic candidates until the time of his death.

During his many decades as a faculty member, he served as President of the Denver Psychoanalytic Society and held multiple leadership roles within the Denver Institute. In addition, Bill chaired or served on almost every Institute committee. From 1995 until the present, Bill held the position of Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Bill extended his commitment to psychoanalytic education nationally, through his work on the Board on Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association. He served as a member of the Executive Council, Fellow to the Board, on the Committee on Institutes, and as Chair of the Committee on New Training Facilities.

One of Bill's greatest professional pleasures was as a member of the Center for Advanced Psychoanalytic Studies (CAPS). He loved attending the bi-annual meetings of his group for over 30 years.

Bill will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives he touched, both professionally and personally.

At this time, the Society will be doing meetings and programs by videoconferencing or telephone. This policy will be in affect through the fall. We will reevaluate as data and information is assessed.

The Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis is issuing a position statement in response to COVID-19 that now impacts all of us. It is our ethical responsibility to face this new reality and to take reasonable and scientifically based precautions to protect our patients, ourselves and the community at large.

We are hopeful that this statement is clear and straightforward in a way that helps us make smart decisions during this time of uncertainty.

Position Statement on Telehealth during COVID-19

The faculty, candidates and PTP students of the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis should follow all local and national directives relating to COVID-19.  As health care providers we may be exempt from certain stay-at-home directives.  However, in our role as psychoanalysts, we are able to use the multitude of tele-health or telephone options available as a way of continuing our analytic and psychotherapy treatments without meeting in-person.  Therefore, in making every effort to protect the health of our patients, ourselves, our colleagues and our communities, the Institute recommends:

All Faculty and Candidates of the Institute

• take reasonable and scientifically based precautions to protect our patients, ourselves and the community at large.
• follow all local and national directives relating to COVID-19.
• provide tele-health platforms as a way of continuing our analytic and psychotherapy treatments.
• do not meet in-person with patients.

Faculty and Supervisors:

• model, teach and supervise flexible ways of working and thinking analytically during this time as this pandemic may affect all of us in various ways; emotionally, economically and physically.
• work with candidates on treatment skills and techniques for working using telehealth modalities. 
• work with candidates in understanding the implications of the shifts in treatment, either in modality, frequency, or interruptions.  
• explore with candidates the ethical dilemmas inherent in these decisions.

Candidates:

• understand that the decision to temporarily reduce frequency or meet using telehealth modalities during the COVID-19 pandemic will not adversely affect their candidacy or graduation. 
• work with their supervisors to develop the proper recommendations for treatment, to understand the analytic meaning of these changes, and implications for conducting the treatment.
• work with their supervisors and teaching faculty on skills for treatment using telehealth modalities, managing interruptions or changes in frequency. 

Respectfully submitted,

Executive Committee

Adopted:  March 26, 2020

PDF Version here

The American Psychoanalytic Association issues an apology to LGBTQ community for its role in considering homosexuality a mental illness and sexual orientation was conflated with gender identity by the mental health field.  Over the last few decades, APsaA has advocated for LGBTQ rights.  Read more here:   http://www.apsa.org/content/news-apsaa-issues-overdue-apology-lgbtq-community

Howard Stern has talked openly about being in psychoanalysis for many years.  With a new book, "Howard Stern Comes Again" where he looks back on his career and shares memorable interviews, he attributes how psychoanalysis changed him and his life.

He spoke with Terry Gross on NPR about this value of psychoanalysis in his life You can read more here, and with Anderson Cooper on CNN he talked about how psychotherapy would be great for Donald Trump you can watch a spinet here. 

It is with deep sadness and sense of loss that we are writing to let you know of the passing of Bill Edwards. 

Dr. Edwards was in private practice since 1987, and gradated from the Institute's Psychodynamic Psychotherapy program in 1996.  Within the Denver Psychoanalytic Society, he held the Secretary position from 2001 to 2003, and has taught several Continuing Education Classes.

Bill enjoyed his career helping others and found his work deeply rewarding.  Outside of work, he volunteered with the Colorado State Parks.

The 2018 Institute Annual Banquet's last set of certificates were awarded to Heath Canfield, DO and David Williams, MD for their completion of the Adult Analytic Program. 

The Adult Analytic program consists of four years of post-graduate didactic training which is based on a tri-part model with three complimentary learning experiences:  a personal analysis, theoretical and clinical seminars, and supervised psychoanalytic work.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the Institute's 2016-2018 PTP class.  The graduates received their certificates at the 2018 Institute Annual Banquet.

• Jacqueline Calderone, MD
  
• Juan DeJesus, MD
  
• Sean LeNoue, MD   (not in photo)
  
• Karen Lenzi, LPC
  
• Meegan Lipman, MD  (not in photo)
  
• Sarah Beth McMurray, LCSW
  
• Akos Mersich, MD, PhD
  
• Diana Pitaru, MS
  
• Alexis Ritvo, MD, MPH