With great honor and enthusiasm, I address you for the first time as President of the Denver Psychoanalytic Society. I am a child and adult analyst and licensed psychologist who is on the faculty of the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis. Less well known is my national and international work.

Since 2022, I have been a member of the Child Adolescent Committee and adjunct child faculty at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. I have taught and supervised, both virtually and in person, at psychoanalytic training programs in Chengdu and Yichang, China. Just this year, in 2025, I co-taught with Anita Schmukler, DO a course for the Society titled “Ethical Practice in Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Thinking about our concepts of ethical practice from a variety of perspectives.” Integrating two of my long-standing interests, I chair the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) Study Group on Meditation and Psychoanalysis. I plan to teach more about the use of meditation and relaxation techniques as adjuncts to psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

I became more involved with the Society through my work on the Schools Committee. During the pandemic, Tony Miles, PhD, our former DPS Secretary, introduced me to administrators at two private schools. This led to a rewarding experience in 2021 where I had the opportunity to speak to their teachers and staff on topics such as "Connecting, Communicating and Coping during this Pandemic," and "Back-to-School Concerns" during the Second Year of Covid-19.

As I step into the role of President, I see an opportunity to revitalize our Society. In recent months, I had the pleasure of connecting with a dozen or so active members about their interests and ideas. I plan to ask the Board and Coordinating Committee members to continue this kind of personal outreach, so that all voices are heard and considered.

We already have a robust calendar of lectures, conferences, and courses, including our very popular film series. Building on this strong foundation, I propose the following key areas for growth and innovation:

1. Growing Membership and Leadership: To foster new membership and develop leadership across our organization and within key committees, including Diversity, Fundraising, and the Schools Committee.
2. Streamlining Educational Programming: To coordinate educational programming, the Society BOD has recommended combining the Continuing Education, Salon and Lecture and Conference Committees. This proposal for a Programming Committee will appear on our upcoming ballot for your vote.
3. Enhancing In-Person Networking: To follow up on the feedback from our 2024 member survey, we will be offering additional in-person networking opportunities two to three times a year to foster stronger connections among our members.
4. Expanding Our Digital Presence: To develop LinkedIn announcements and networking, both for DPS members and other interested psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists throughout the country.
5. Outreaching to the Community at large through Extension Courses: To explore how our members can provide extension courses to the wider Metropolitan community, offering programs tailored for parents, teachers, lawyers, physicians, and other professionals. I warmly invite any members interested in joining a task force to explore this exciting initiative to contact me.
6. Exploring AI's Influence on Our Field: To learn more about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on mental health. In this vein, Valerie Frankfeldt, PhD, a member of the APsA task force on Artificial Intelligence, will present a lecture on November 12, 2026, titled “Beyond the Algorithm to Emotional Communication: Why AI Lacks the Heart of Psychoanalysis.”

Please contact members of the board, committee chairs or me about your interest in any of the above proposals, committees, task forces, teaching or learning in continuing education programs, networking and referrals. Ask yourselves both what the Society can do for you and what you can do for the Society.

I am hopeful about the future of the Denver Psychoanalytic Society and the collective impact we can have to further strengthen our vibrant community. The success of my hopes and plans for the next two years as President of the Society depends on you.

Shoshana Shapiro Adler
President, Denver Psychoanalytic Society