Relational-Depth Psychology Seminar

 

Our seminar in Psychodynamic theory is aimed at making this invaluable tradition of clinical wisdowm clear and understandable so that clinicians can make use of this theory in their work.  We emphasize using clinical examples and case material to illustrate and flesh out the theory as much as possible.

 

Theory Covered:

• Object Relations

• Relational Psychoanalysis

• Self Psychology

• Classical Psychoanalysis

• Psychopathology and Human Development from a Psychodynamic Perspective

• The relationship between Psychoanalysis and Jungian, Existential, and Spirituality-oriented theories

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Concepts Covered:

• Use of the therapeutic relationship

• Transference & Countertransference

• Projection, Projective Identification, Splitting, Mentalizing

• Enactment, self-disclosure, use of emotion, "the frame"

• Psychodynamic diagnosis, case conceptualization, and treatment planning

• How to integrate depth-oriented therapy into the world of insurance and evidenced-based treatment

• Integrating Psychodynamic insight into couples, family, child/adolescent therapy

• Working with difficult patients

• Dream interpretation

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Theorists covered:

• Freud and the Ego Psychology tradition up to and including Nancy McWilliams

• Winnicott, Fairbairn, Balint, Guntrip and the "British Middle-School" tradition

• Kohut

• Klein and Bion

• Stephen A. Mitchell and the relationalists: Martha Stark, Karen Maroda, Jessica Benjamin, Lewis Aron, Irwin Hoffman, Paul Wachtel, Neil Altman, and Phillip Bromberg

• Carl Jung and the Jungian theorists (James Hillman, Joseph Campbell, Marie Louie von Franz, Marion Woodman)

• Erich Fromm, Rollo May, Irving Yalom and other more "Existential" theorists

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The class consists of a small group (8-15) clinicians diverse in age and experience.  We meet once a month for 1.5 hours on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm. The class meets 8 times beginning in October of each year and costs $100 for the year.  However, we are happy to provide reduced rates for students or those with financial constraints.  Just let us know what a manageable amount is for you.  No one will be turned away for financial reasons.

 

The course is taught primarily by Dr. David Thompson, with occassional guest speakers for certain topics.  Dr. Thompson trained in San Francisco at the California Institute of Integral Studies where he studied Relational Psychoanalysis, Jungian Psychology, and Existential Psychology.  He completed his pre-doctoral internship at a psychoanalytic training clinic specializing in psychodyanmic work with inner city populations.  Over the past several years, Dr. Thompson has been teaching Psychodynamic theory at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and at the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society.

 

If you are interested in participating, email or call (612-807-0388) David Thompson to inquire.

 

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