This presentation will interest anyone intrigued by the study of sleep and dreams and their disorders

ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION
Just when the world thought Oscar’s meteoric rise to Olympic glory and international celebrity had terminated abysmally in prison, Brent Willock reopens this gripping narrative for astonishing re- view. The Blade Runner’s life ground to a screeching halt in the wee hours of Valentine’s Day, 2013. Hearing a sound from his bathroom, he grabbed his pistol, screaming at the intruders to leave. Fearing someone was about to emerge to harm him and his girlfriend, Reeva, he fired four bullets. Soon he realized he had killed Reeva. The investigating detective believed this was yet another case where a man murdered his partner. World opinion is split. Some believe Oscar.
Others are convinced he committed a despicable crime of passion.

Brent brings an entirely new perspective to bear on these events, namely that they occurred while Oscar was in a state of paradoxical sleep (parasomnia). Using scientific scrutiny and legal precedence, he resolves the crucial anomalies surrounding Oscar’s trial, and discusses how mental health experts and lawyers could have overlooked the parasomnia hypothesis that could have exonerated Oscar. Millions who were inspired by Oscar’s astonishing achievements and triumph over adversity were crushed and baffled by his plunge from grace. Even he, shortly before sentencing, achingly asked, “How did this possibly happen?” This presentation responds to these poignant questions that have plagued Reeva’s family, friends, Oscar, and the world.

If time permits, we may discuss a second case, a 20-year-old university student who killed most of his family in what appears to be a similar but different condition of simultaneous sleep and wakefulness — a possibility the courts did not consider in sentencing this young man to 3 life sentences.

Readings: Although it is not necessary, you may want to read this book before our scientific meeting. Copies will be available for purchase at the event, or at Caversham Booksellers.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will learn about:

1. Alternatve and innovative ways of thinking about and understanding unusual, sometimes horrific acts.
2. Dreams of convenience.
3. Disorders of dreaming and sleep (states in which individuals are awake and asleep simultaneously).
4. Violent parasomnias.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Brent Willock, Ph.D., is the Founding President of the Toronto Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis. He serves on the Board of the Canadian Institute for Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. He teaches in the postgraduate child and adolescent psychoanalytic program at Adelphi University. He has published widely and serves on several editorial boards for psychoanalytic journals and book series. Brent has received many awards for his contributions to the field (e.g., The first Perkins Award from the University of Chicago and the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis for “”outstanding application of psychoanalytic theory and insight to the understanding and treatment of severely emotionally disturbed children”).

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
These continuing education and professional development hours can be used towards your continuing education, professional development portfolio for your respective colleges, including the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

Please Note: Open only to CAPCT members. Registration is FREE.