We are pleased to announce the 10th Frances Tustin International Conference, an important international gathering for clinicians, psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists working with autism and primitive mental states.
The conference will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 30 July to 1 August 2026, with pre-conference activities on 29 July 2026, hosted at the Brazilian Society of Psychoanalysis of São Paulo.
Organised collaboratively by the Frances Tustin Memorial Trust, the Brazilian Society of Psychoanalysis of São Paulo, the Psychoanalytic Society of Rio de Janeiro, and the Prisma Group of Psychoanalysis and Autism, the meeting promises a rich clinical and theoretical programme.
Conference Theme
Absence, Presence, Excess in Primitive Mental States: Clinical Challenges
This year’s theme explores the psychoanalytic understanding of early developmental disturbances, autism spectrum conditions, narcissistic suffering, and severe states of mind, with a strong focus on clinical technique and contemporary theoretical developments.
Key Topics and Lectures
The conference programme includes keynote lectures, parallel presentations, clinical seminars, filmed archival material from Frances Tustin, and cultural events.
Highlights include:
Keynote Themes
- Primary Symbolisation in Autism and Narcissistic Identity Sufferings
- Arid Mental Landscapes and Cravings for Human Contact
- Hyperbolic States and Psychic Disruption
- Sexualisation and Deadening of the Mind
- Paternal Function in Autistic Pathology
- Autistic Grief and Mourning
Clinical and Theoretical Topics
- Epigenetics, genetics, and psychic constitution
- Prematurity and emergence of self
- Sensory-emotional resonance in clinical work
- Claustrum states of mind
- Motor disruption and the core self in autism
- Transcultural applications of psychoanalytic assessment
- WhatsApp and the digital space as an analytic environment
Pre-Conference Programme
- Filmed lectures and interviews with Frances Tustin
- Seminar on her theoretical and clinical contributions
- Parallel supervised clinical seminars on child and adult cases
These sessions will be of particular interest to clinicians working with autism spectrum disorders, trauma, attachment difficulties, and severe psychopathology.
Translations and Language Options
To ensure accessibility for an international audience:
- Keynote lectures in English will be accompanied by simultaneous translation into Portuguese and Spanish.
- The keynote lecture, delivered in Portuguese, will be translated into English and Spanish in real time.
- Written texts of all lectures will be available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The 10th Frances Tustin Interna…
This multilingual format makes the conference especially welcoming for clinicians across Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
Venue
Brazilian Society of Psychoanalysis of São Paulo
Av. Dr. Cardoso de Melo 1450, São Paulo, Brazil The 10th Frances Tustin Interna…
Additional seminar rooms will be available at the Station Training Centre.
Who Should Attend?
This conference will be valuable for:
- Psychoanalysts
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Psychotherapists
- Mental health clinicians working with autism or severe mental states
- Trainees interested in psychoanalytic approaches
Download the Full Programme
For the complete programme, speaker list, registration details, and seminar options, please download the full conference brochure:
👉 Download the Conference PDF
Further Information
For registration and enquiries, visit:
www.tustinsaopaulo.org or email us at contato@tustinsaopaulo.org
Closing Note
The Frances Tustin Conferences have long provided a vital forum for exploring autism, primitive mental states, and psychoanalytic technique in depth. The 2026 conference in São Paulo promises an exceptional opportunity for learning, discussion, and international collaboration.