Curriculum Vitae - Frances Sommer Anderson, Ph.D. 

Dr. Sommer Anderson, a licensed psychologist (NY State 005532-1), holds a Certificate of Specialization in Psychoanalysis from the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. She is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), certified by the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. She has expertise in treating people with back pain and other medical conditions, physical disability, and trauma.

Select any of the interests below to learn more about Frances Sommer Anderson, Ph.D.


Training | Clinical Experience | Teaching | Organizations | Activities | Publications | Presentations


Professional Training

  • Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute™ 10/11: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)
  • New York University Postdoctoral Training Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
    6/99: Certificate of Specialization in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
  • Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center
    9/75 - 2/76: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Child Psychology
    9/74 - 8/75: APA-approved Clinical Psychology Internship

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Academic Training

  • 1975: Ph.D. Psychology, Brown University
  • 1972: M.A. Psychology, Brown University
  • 1970: Psychology, Mercer University, summa cum laude

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Clinical Experiences

  • Private Practice
    1978 - Present: Individual psychotherapy and psychoanalysis with adults; specialization in treatment of musculoskeletal pain and other stress-related medical conditions: treatment of trauma
  • Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center
    3/77 - 9/87: Senior Clinical Psychologist
    2/76 - 3/77: Staff Psychologist
  • Clinical Services
    * Psychodiagnostic evaluations, intensive individual and group psychodynamic psychotherapy with patients with psychophysiological pain syndrome.
    * Psychotherapy with individuals with neurological impairment.
    * Responsible for service delivery to children, adolescents and adults in outpatient neuromuscular disease clinic.
  • Clinical Research
    * Prepared and implemented grant proposals to study sexuality and disability, impact of childhood disability on the family, and correlates of intellectual functioning in adolescents with muscular dystrophy.
    * Devised structured clinical interview, which I used as clinical research instrument to assess sexual practices and problems of people with neuromuscular disease.
    * Devised structured clinical interview, which I used to assess impact of childhood muscular dystrophy on the family.
    * Conducted study to assess extent to which intellectual functioning is correlated with anxiety and depression in adolescents with Duchenne's type muscular dystrophy.

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Teaching

  • Faculty Appointments
    * National Institute for the Psychotherapies Training Institute
    9/00 - Present: Supervising Faculty
    9/99 - Present: Teaching Faculty
    * City University of New York, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
    9/91 - 9/09: Adjunct Clinical Supervisor
    * New York University Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
    9/89-7/10: Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
    * Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center
    9/85 - 8/87: Director, Clinical Psychology Intern Training Program (APA approved)
    7/83 - 8/85: Co-Director, Clinical Psychology Intern Training Program (APA approved)
    2/76 - 8/87: Individual supervision of psychology interns' psychodiagnostic work and psychotherapy, psychotherapy seminar for psychology interns, in-service seminars for interdisciplinary staff.
    * New School for Social Research, Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
    9/85 - 8/87: Clinical Associate: Supervision of clinical psychology externs.
    * New York University Department of Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
    9/79 - 1/80: Adjunct Assistant Professor
    * "Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Disability"
    New York University Post: Graduate Medical Workshop
    1/21/77 and 12/7/78: "Psychosocial Problems of Patients with Neuromuscular Disease"
  • Recent Courses--Psychoanalytic
    * "Using the Therapist's Bodily Experience" Psychotherapy Seminar for Clinical Psychology Interns, Bellevue 3/12 and 3/19/08
    * Committee on Psychoanalysis and Health Care, Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association
    * "Treating Trauma: An Integrative Perspective": Co-Instructor, National Institute for the Psychotherapies, New York City, November 2003 - February 2004
    * "Bodies in the Analytic Process": Elective course for 4th-year analytic candidates, National Institute for the Psychotherapies, New York City, fall semester 2002.
    * "Relational Perspectives on the Body": Elective course for 4th- year analytic candidates, National Institute for the Psychotherapies, New York City, fall semester, 1999
  • Recent Courses-Rehabilitation Medicine
    * "Enhancing the Therapist-Client Relationship" In-Service Seminar for H&D Physical Therapy, March 25, 2005.
    * "The Impact of Trauma." Level I Yoga Teacher Training Seminar, Yoga Zone. New York City, December 2000.
    * "Exploring the Yoga Teacher-Student Relationship." "Contemporary Models of Pain." Level I Yoga Teacher Training Seminar, Yoga Zone, New York City, December 2000.

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Professional Organizations

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Professional Activities

  • Chair, Recruitment Committee, New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, 2002-03 Academic Year
  • Co-Director, Invited Panels for Core Planning Committee, 22nd Annual Spring Meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April, 2002.
  • Candidate Member, Executive Committee of the Relational Orientation Track, New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, 1995-1997.
  • Candidate Member, Clinic Committee, New York University
  • Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psycho-analysis, 1996-1997.
  • Co-Founding Member, National Mental Health Forum, 1995-96.
  • Candidate Member, New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis Senate, 1993-1995.

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 Publications - Psychoanalytic

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Publications - Rehabilitation Medicine

  • Anderson, F. S. (1988), Psychosexual issues in rehabilitation. In: Rehabilitation Medicine, ed. J. Goodgold. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby.
  • Feinblatt, A., Anderson, F. S. and Gordon, W. (1986), Psychosocial and vocational considerations. In: Principles of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Musculoskeletal Diseases, ed. J. C. Leek, M. E. Gershwin, and W .M. Fowler. New York: Grune & Stratton.
  • Anderson, F. (1984), Sexual problems of patients with neuromuscular disease. Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, 18 (11).
  • Anderson, F. and Bardach, J. L. (1983), Sexuality and neuromuscular disease: A pilot study. International Rehabilitation Medicine, 5: 2l-26.
  • Anderson, F., Bardach, J. L., and Goodgold, J. (1979), Sexuality and Neuromuscular Disease, Monograph #56. New York: Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Bardach, J. L. and Anderson, F. (1979), Sexual therapy in rehabilitation. In: Current Perspectives in Rehabilitation Nursing, ed. R. Murray and J. Kijek. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby.
  • Anderson, F. (1977), Sexuality in muscular dystrophy and related disorders. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Abstracts.

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Presentations - Psychoanalytic

  • "Exploring the Analyst's Bodily Response to Traumatic Narratives" on the panel Psychoanalysis at the Extremes of Human Experience. Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association/Division of Psychoanalysis (39), Boston, MA, August 14-17, 2008
  • "Experiencing the Complexity of Somatic Pain." Living With Medical Conditions Study Group at William Alanson White Institute, New York City, June 12, 2008.
  • Meet the Author Panel for "Bodies in Treatment: The Unspoken Dimension." 28th Annual Spring Meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 12, 2008.
  • "When the Analyst Changes Her Face: Speaking, and Not Speaking, About Plastic Surgery" on the Steering Committee Invited Roundtable Discussion: Just Ask Already! Talking About the Analyst's Physical Self. 28th Annual Spring Meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 12, 2008.
  • "Knowing What You Know, and Don't Want to Know, About Your Patient's Body" Invited Experiential Demonstration at the 28th Annual Spring Meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 11, 2008.
  • "Sensing the Other: Using the Therapist's Bodily Experience in Treatment." ® Invited Presenter at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies Training Institute Trauma Program Colloquium, New York City, February 13, 2008.
  • "Experiencing Body Transference and Countertransference." Panelist for Independent Track Colloquium, NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, New York City, November 30, 2007.
  • "Experiencing and Regulating the Bodily Impact of Pain Memories" on the Panel: Psychoanalysis at the Extremes of Human Experience at the Association for the Psychoanalysis of Culture and Society Conference: Hope for Hard Times: Anxiety, Alienation, and Activism. Rutgers University, New Jersey, November 4, 2007.
  • "Pain and Trauma: Experiencing the Relational Dimension." Trauma Seminar Series Saturday Seminars, NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, New York City, September 29, 2007.
  • "Body Transference and Countertransference." Master Class Panelist, Division of Psychoanalysis (39), American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada, April 17, 2007.
  • "Sensing the Other: A Visceral and Conceptual Exploration of the Analyst’s Bodily Experience." Keynote Speaker, NYU Postdoctoral Program Annual Research Conference "Minding the Body," Lakeville, CT, November 3-5, 2006.
  • "'I Can't Believe I Did That!': When Medical Conditions Strain the Frame." Panelist: "The Analyst's Vulnerability: When Psychoanalysis Meets Medical Illness." Division of Psychoanalysis (39), American Psychological Association, New York City, April 14, 2005.
  • "Working with Patients with Chronic Illness and Medical Dilemmas." Panelist, Task Force in Psychoanalysis and Health Care. Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 14, 2005.
  • "The Analyst's Bodily Experience: A Visceral and Conceptual Exploration." Continuing Education Seminar: "Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Attachment and the Body: One Hundred Years after Freud." National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis, New York City, April 2, 2005.
  • "From 'I Fall to Pieces' to 'Wide Open Spaces': Experiencing a Forty-Year Evolution of Women's Desire in Country and Western Music." William Alanson White Psychoanalytic Institute Conference: "Longing: Psychoanalytic Musings on Desire." New York City, October 2004.
  • "Somatic Awareness in the Analytic Process: An Experiential Demonstration." Clinical Case Conference, William Alanson White Institute, New York City, March 4, 2003.
  • "Other Ways of Knowing: Somatic Awareness in the Analytic Process." New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Lakeville, CT, November 15, 2002.
  • "Constructing Pain: An Experiential Clinical Demonstration." Panel on "Can a Psychoanalytic Clinician Treat Pain?" Division of Psychoanalysis (39, American Psychological Association, New York City, April 11, 2002.
  • "Trauma, Dissociation, and Conflict: The Space Where Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Psychoanalysis Overlap." Panel Co-chair, Division of Psychoanalysis (39). American Psychological Association, New York City, April 12, 2002.
  • "Meet the Author." Moderator, On Moving and Being Moved, by Frances La Barre. Division of Psychoanalysis(39), American Psychological Association, New York City, April 12, 2002.
  • "Musculoskeletal Pain and Affect: Embodying Steven," Suffolk Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis Conference: "The Mind Has a Body of Its Own: Clinical Perspectives." Huntington, New York, November 6, 1999.
  • "No Matter How Hard I Try, I Can't Get Through to You!" Panel: "On Being Stuck: Enactments, Mutuality, and Self-Regulation with Eating-Disordered Patients." William Alanson White Institute Conference on Hungers and Compulsions: Contemporary Perspectives in the Psychoanalytic Treatment of Eating disorders and Addictions. New York City, October 30, 1999.
  • "Meet the Author" (panel) with Lewis Aron, editors, on Relational Perspectives on the Body. Meeting of Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City, April 15, 1999.
  • "Musculoskeletal Pain and Affect: A Psychoanalytic Formulation," Psychology Department In-Service Conference, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York City, February 16, 1999.
  • "Trauma, Affect, and Musculoskeletal Pain" Grand Rounds, Middletown Psychiatric Center, Middletown, New York, December 16, 1998.
  • "Musculoskeletal Pain: A Psychoanalytically Informed Treatment Approach" (panel) International Federation for Psychoanalytic Education Conference": "How Will the Body Speak in the 21st Century?" New York City, November 6, 1998.
  • "Body in Process" (panel) International Federation for Psychoanalytic Education Conference: "How Will the Body Speak in the 21st Century?" New York City, November 6, 1998.
  • "Musculoskeletal Pain and Dissociated Affect: Staying Alive with Mrs. R." Clinical Case Conference. The William Alanson White Institute, New York City, June 16, 1998.
  • "Musculoskeletal Back Pain and Affect." In-service Seminar, Department of Psychology, Bellevue Hospital, New York City, May 14, 1998.
  • "Musculoskeletal Pain and Dissociated Affect: Staying Alive with Mrs. R." Panel on "The Relational Construction of the Body," with Lewis Aron Manhattan Institute of Psychoanalysis, New York City, March 6, 1998.
  • "Psychic Elaboration of Chronic Physical Pain and Suffering in an Analytic Dyad." Panel on "Creating Analytic Space for Bodily Experience, " with Ron Balamuth, Ph.D., and Tamsin Looker, Ph.D., April 18, 1996 at Annual Conference of Division of Psychoanalysis (39) of the American Psychological Association, New York City.
  • "Trauma, Affect and the Body." Panel "Working Close to the Body in Psychoanalysis," with Ron Balamuth, Ph.D., and Tamsin Looker, Ph.D. Annual Research Conference of the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, September 24, 1994.
  • "Therapeutic Work with Malignant Regression: Case Presentation." New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, New York City. April 26, 1992.Discussant: Harold Stewart, M.D., London, England.
  • "An Approach to Treatment of Psychophysiological Disorders" In-Service Seminar, Department of Psychology, Bellevue Hospital, New York City. October 26, 1989.

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Presentations - Rehabilitation Medicine

  • "Pain: A Biopsychosocial Approach." Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, In-Service Conference, St. Vincent's Medical Center, New York City, March 23, 2000.
  • "Pain: A Biopsychosocial Approach" Department of Rehabilitation, In-Service Conference, Medicine-St. Vincent's Medical Center, New York City, May 28, 1999.
  • "Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain." In-Service Seminar with Arlene Feinblatt, Ph.D. and Eric Sherman, Psy.D. Department of Psychology, Bellevue Hospital, New York City, May 16, 1996.
  • "Medical Illness and Physical Disability: Psychotherapy Considerations." Workshop on February 7, 1995, with Eric Sherman, Psy.D. and Arlene Feinblatt, Ph.D. New York State Psychological Association, New York City.
  • Panelist with Leonard Diller, Ph.D., Division 22 Symposium on Critical Issues in Training Rehabilitation Psychologist: Where are we going? -"Internship as a Learning Experience." Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. August 30, 1987, New York City.
  • "Chronic Conditions and Disability-Neuromuscular Disease." Panelist, 29th Health Forum of the National Health Council. March 18-19, 1981, New York City.
  • Interviewed on radio program, "In Touch." Topic: "Sexuality and Disability, " November 1980.
  • Interviewed on Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. September 1980.
  • Consultant for "Experience in Independent Recreation." Planned and participated in one-week experimental recreation program funded by the regional office of Muscular Dystrophy Association. June 1980.
  • The American Heart Association, Nassau Chapter. Symposium on Stroke Care: "Sexual Counseling of the Stroke Patient, " March, 1980.
  • "Issues in Sexual Counseling of the Congenitally Disabled." Symposium on Sexuality and Disability. American Psychological Association meeting, September 1979.
  • Interview on "Roundtable, " United Press International Radio Broadcast. Topic: "Psychological Problems of People with Muscular Dystrophy." August 1978.
  • Poster Presentation: "A Study of Sexuality in Muscular Dystrophy and Related Disorders." November 1, 1977, Annual Session of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bal Harbor, Miami, Florida.
  • "Study of Sexuality in Patients with Muscular Dystrophy." Symposium on "Some Current Work on Sexuality in the Disabled: Clinical, Training and Research Aspects, " September 27, 1977, Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California.
  • "Delineation and Treatment of Sexuality in the Physically Disabled: Results of a Pilot Study of Sexuality in Muscular Dystrophy and Related Disorders, " April 27, 1977, Annual Conference of the Association of Sex Therapists and Counselors, Charleston, South Carolina.
  • "Sexual Concerns." Symposium on "Advances in Neurological Nursing," The Mount Sinai Hospital School of Continuing Education in Nursing. December 3, 1977.
  • "Results of a Pilot Study of Sexuality in Muscular Dystrophy and Related Disorders, " April 16, 1977, Seminar for family members and patients with muscular dystrophy, Yonkers Rehabilitation Center and West Iowa Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Des Moines.

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