Carolyn wins prestigious book prize

In her book The Political Clinic: Psychoanalysis and Social Change in the Twentieth Century, she delves into the clinical work of some of the British Psychoanalytical Society’s most influential practitioners, exploring how they developed distinctive and politically important practices. She argues that these figures transformed the clinic into a laboratory for reimagining race, gender, sexuality, childhood, nation and democracy.

Dr Laubender, said: “I feel incredibly honoured and humbled by this award from the American Psychoanalytic Association.

“The Political Clinic was ten years in the making, so having this work recognised by such a prestigious prize is hugely gratifying. My hope for The Political Clinic is that it will continue to speak across the divide between critical theory and clinical psychoanalysis in the ways that both academics and clinicians find productive.

“The Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies at Essex is one of the few academic hubs in the world to undertake this kind of trans-disciplinary, psychosocial research and so to have The Political Clinic honoured in this way is a testament to the value of the research we're doing here at Essex."

Dr Jessica Battersby, Head of the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (PPS), added: “Dr Laubender’s much deserved and outstanding achievement is testament to her creative talent and rigorous scholarship. This award is one of international recognition and we are proud to nurture a culture here in PPS that facilitates such excellence.”

The Book Prize of the American Psychoanalytic Association recognises a book that best promotes the engagement of psychoanalysis with academic disciplines from the humanities and social sciences.