Psychotherapy as the Art of Uncertainty

This article, by Philip M. Bromberg, is a gem published posthumously as part of this special edition. The origins are worth noting. A student from the Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions Service (EDCAS) program at the William Alanson White Institute asked me to invite Philip to consider giving a keynote address at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City. His first response was—as now you may understand—a typical Bromberg response: It went (something like... . rather... . exactly like this,) “No, No, No!...what could I possibly say to students, nonetheless art therapists?” I encouraged him to speak with the EDCAS student, Valerie Sereno, LCAT, and faculty member in the graduate art therapy department at the School of Visual Arts, who was able to deftly convince him. Valerie also provided us the photo with Philip in front of SVA, to which he said—with a big grin—he never thought he’d see his name on a theater marquee. He was truly delighted. What you see below, was originally presented on September 12, 2014, as the keynote address for SVA’s annual conference of the MPS (Master of Professional Studies) Art Therapy Department. Philip gave a copy to Velleda Ceccoli (this issue), as they shared interest in the crossover of psychoanalysis and art. It feels right to publish it now. The paper is deliberately left in its spoken form (with the addition of footnotes and references), to ensure a felt experience of Philip as you read it. This includes his use of CAPS and italicized words, etc. Many of you would agree, I’m sure, that Philip simply would have had it no other way. Jean Petrucelli, Ph.D.