This course is intended as an introduction to the ideas of Sandor Ferenczi and his contributions to the theory and practice of psychoanalysis which can be argued were a harbinger of contemporary relational psychoanalytic discourse and practice. Ferenczi and Freud had a very active correspondence through which they discussed in depth what were to become the basic principles of psychoanalytic theory and practice. But whereas Freud was interested in developing a metapsychology and theory of the mind, Ferenczi’s main interest was the development of clinical techniques meant to relieve the psychic suffering of patients suffering from mental health challenges. This course will focus on the evolution of Ferenczi’s work on understanding the source of individual psychic suffering and in developing dynamic techniques that provide effective treatment for patients with significant psychological challenges. Embedded in Ferenczi’s ideas of dynamic treatment is a sense of the ethics of care that should guide the clinician’s work with their patients.
This course will be of interest to mental health workers in clinical practice. Although the course will have primarily didactic discussions of the suggested readings, the participants are encouraged to discuss vignettes from their clinical practices that may illustrate the didactic material.
Daniel Kupermann’s excellent overview of the evolution of Ferenczi’s thinking and work with patients will serve as the main text for discussion, Ferenczi’s major papers will also be included in the readings thus combining original text and contemporary elaboration for a fuller appreciation of how Ferenczi’s ideas are quite relevant to contemporary practice of psychoanalysis.
Endre Koritar, M. D., FRCP(C), FIPA, is a training and supervising analyst with the Western Canada Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of the University of British Columbia affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry. He is on the Board of Directors of the ISFN, the National Council of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society, the National Training Committee, and an Associate Editor of the American Journal of Psychoanalysis. He is interested in researching and elaborating on the ideas of Sándor Ferenczi, who was a harbinger of contemporary psychoanalytic theory and technique.
John Tavares MD, FRCP(C), FIPA is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst member of the Western Canadian Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. He currently works in private practice and shared psychiatric care in Vancouver, British Columbia and provides didactic teaching and clinical supervision in his role as Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC. He is an active member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Psychoanalysis.
Introduction to Ferenczi
with Endre Koritar, MD, FRCP(C), FIPA
& John Tavares, MD, FRCP(C), FIPA
Wednesdays @ 7:30 – 9:30 pm (PST)
10 sessions
Sept 10, Oct 8, Nov 5, Dec 10, 2025
Jan 7, Feb 11, Mar 4, Apr 8, May 13, June 10, 2026
LOCATION:
Online via Zoom
Cost: $300
Registration closed. For more information contact info@wcpsi.org
CANCELLATION POLICY: The WCPSI withdrawal policy allows a refund minus a 20% administration cost, up to one week before the first class, and no refund after that point.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidential clinical material and commentary will be presented which registrants agree to treat with confidentiality.
Required Text: Why Ferenczi: The Empathic Style of Psychoanalysis, by Daniel Kupermann (Blucher, 2024)
September 10, 2025 Session 1
Why Ferenczi (WF). Pgs 13-46: Confusion of Tongues: Freud, Ferenczi, and Serguei Pankejieff
October 8 Session 2
a. Ferenczi: The effect on Women of Premature ejaculation in Men.
b. Ferenczi: Introjection and Transference
c. Borgogno, F. (2011) Sándor Ferenczi, the “Introjective Psychoanalyst”. American Imago 68:155-172
November 5 Session 3
WF: pgs 47-64: limits and applicability active technique.
December 10 Session 4
a. Ferenczi: Contraindications of the Active Technique
b Ferenczi: On Forced Fantasies
c. Koritár: Ferenczi’s Experiments with Technique in Ferenczi’s Influence on Contemporary Psychoanalytic Traditions Routledge 2018.
January 7 Session 5
WF: 65-102: Verleugnung: disavowal and the relational and social dimensions of trauma.
February 11 Session 6
a. The unwelcome child and his death instinct.
b. Child analysis in the analysis of the adult.
c. Confusion of tongues between adults and the child.
March 4 Session 7
WF: 103-142: the turning point of 1928 and the principles for an ethics of care in psychoanalysis
April 8 Session 8
a.Ferenczi: Adaptation of the Family to the Child
b. Ferenczi: Elasticity of Technique
c. Ferenczi: The problem of termination of analysis
May 13 Session 9
WF: pgs 149-182: Neocatharsis and the sensitive way of working through
June 10 Session 10
a. Ferenczi: Relaxation of technique and neocathasis.
b. Ferenczi: The Problem of the Acceptance of Unpleasant Ideas.