The Frances Tustin Memorial Trust is dedicated to the teaching, expansion and extension of Tustin’s seminal work on the understanding and treatment of autistic spectrum disorders and defenses. Toward this goal, each year the Trust sponsors The Frances Tustin Memorial Prize, consisting of $1,000 and presentation at the Annual Frances Tustin Memorial Lecture at the beginning of November.

All interested parties are encouraged to submit (by e-mail attachment) a previously unpublished, psychoanalytically oriented, clinically focused paper addressing the treatment of primitive mental states in general and autistic defenses, disorders or states in children, adolescents or adults, in particular. The paper must be no more than 6500 words (including references), in the English language, written in double spaced format, 12 points font and be submitted by April 1st each year. Writers whose mother tongue is not English should take care to have the paper they intend to submit be translated or edited at a high level of English. A separate short abstract and bio of the author should be attached.

The body of the e-mail, to which the paper is attached, shall contain all identifying and contact information and may contain any other communication to the Trust desired by the author. However, each attached paper must be completely cleansed of anything that would identify the author, this in order to insure fairness in choosing the awardee. Submissions should be sent to Alina Schellekes at: shalin@zahav.net.il

Papers received each year before the deadline of April 1st are read and anonymously evaluated by the Board of Trustees on the basis of relevance to the work of Frances Tustin, the originality of the material presented and clarity of argument and clinical presentation. After discussing the papers, the most outstanding paper is selected, by a vote of the Board of Trustees, to receive the Prize.

Authors are notified by The Trust, in writing, about the outcome of their deliberations during June each year and the author of the Prize winning paper is invited to present at The Annual Frances Tustin Memorial Lecture at Tel Aviv University.

The FTM Lecture is an all-day conference co-sponsored by the Frances Tustin Memorial Trust along with The Program of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy,  Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. The FTM Lecture is held annually at the beginning of November. The Lecture day features the recipient of the FTM Prize. The paper is presented by the author and there may be a formal discussant elected by the Trust as well as ample time for audience participation.

Additionally a public discussion of a clinical case or a second paper may be presented at the discretion of the awardee of the Prize. If you would like to be notified regarding these events and others organized by the Frances Tustin Memorial Trust you have the option to subscribe to our e-mail list by clicking below: