Psychoanalytic Basics … and Beyond

The Course Committee of the Western Branch CPS is very pleased to announce a seminar series of 8 sessions to introduce basic psychoanalytic concepts and how they are used in everyday clinical practice. An historical survey from Freud to contemporary contributors will look at the epistemology of psychoanalytic ideas. The course will also touch on clinical themes, such as the analytic setting, the process of change, unconscious communication, containment and holding, and the therapeutic relationship as this relates to transference, countertransference, defenses and resistance.

This series is recommended for therapist practitioners or students seriously considering pursuing psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis as a career.

Participants are expected to have carefully read the assigned readings so as to be prepared to discuss the material by generating questions, comments and critiques of the texts.

While there will not be a separate section in which to present clinical material, participants are encouraged to offer clinical vignettes from their own clinical practices as these arise in their associations to the texts. For confidentiality purposes any identifying patient information should be disguised.

Art credits: Artist: Richard M. Markus | Celestial Bridges | April 17, 2022  |  Medium: Inkjet on Archival Rag 24” x 18”


Format:
Theoretical Discussion of papers

Required Textbook:
Lemma, A. (2016). Introduction to the Practice of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, second edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. UK. Additional Resource for those considering training in psychoanalysis: Busch, F. (2021). Dear Candidate. Routlege, Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York

A selection of readings from:

  1. Symington, N: (1986) The Analytic Experience: Lectures from Tavistock – Free Association Books: London.
  2. Casement, P. (1985) Learning from the Patient – The Gilford Press: London.
  3. Ogden, T. H. (2005) The Art of Psychoanalysis – Routledge Taylor and Francis Group: London.
  4. McWilliams, N. (2011) Psychoanalytic diagnosis, second edition : Understanding personality structure in the clinical process – Guilford Publications.
  5. A selection of other papers.

Learning Objectives:
After each unit of this course, participants can expect to be able to …

  1. Have an informed appreciation of a selection of basic psychoanalytic concepts
  2. Develop a sensibility as to whether psychoanalytic thinking and technique appeals to their identity as clinicians.
  3. Appraise the utility of psychoanalytic thinking in an array of clinical practices and domains.

 

Psychoanalytic Basics … and Beyond

8 Thursdays
@ 7pm-9pm PT (Pacific Time)

September 15, 2022
October 13, 20, 2022
November 3, 10, 17, 2022
December 1, 15, 2022 

LOCATION:
Online via Zoom
 Zoom Setup Notes >>

COST:
General: $320
WBCPS Member / Guest Member: $270
Students and Trainees: $200

PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will not be recorded. PRIVATE RECORDING IS NOT ALLOWED.

PLANNING COMMITTEE:Jo Hoffman, MD, FRCPC, FIPA (Chair), Joseph Eliezer, RP, RCS, MPCC-S, Rodrigo Gomez, M.P.P., Judith Setton-Markus, M.Ed., R. Psych. FIPA, and Michelle van den Engh, MD, FRCPC

CANCELLATION POLICY: The withdrawal policy allows a refund minus a 20% administration cost, up to one week before the event.

CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidential clinical material and commentary will be presented which registrants agree to treat with confidentiality.


Course Outline:

Session 1: September 15: If I Knew then what I Know Now
Moderator: Judith Setton-Markus, M.Ed, R. Psych., FIPA
Panel: Catherine Young (TA), Ph.D., FIPA, Darren Thompson (WB member), MD, FRCPC, FIPA, John Tavares (recent graduate) MD, FRCPC, FIPA, Celine Brouillette (AIT), Ph.D.

In this session, a panel consisting of a training analyst, a WBCPS psychoanalyst member, a new graduate of WPSI and an analyst in training will discuss, from different perspectives, the experience of undergoing and teaching psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In the first hour, each panel participant will present a 5 minute presentation, after which there will be a discussion among panelists. In the second hour, course participants are encouraged to generate questions from the presentations, panel discussions and/or the background readings.

Readings:
1. Lemma, A. Introduction: Is Freud dead? pp. 1-11

  • Chap 1: Brave New Worlds: A Psychoanalysis Fit for the Twenty-First Century, pp. 12-27

2. Symington, N. (1986). The Analytic Experience: Lectures from Tavistock. Free Association Books, London.

  • Section I: Setting the Scene
  • Chapter 1 Psychoanalysis: A Servant of Truth, pp. 15-24
  • Chapter 2 Insight and Emotion in Psychoanalysis, pp. 25-37
  • Chapter 3 Psychoanalysis: The Science of Meaning, pp. 38-48

Session 2: October 13: Psychoanalytic Models
Facilitator(s): Summer Telio, MD, FRCPC, FIPA, Elisabeth Hallam, Ph.D., R.Psych

Readings:
1. Lemma, A: Chap 2: An Overview of the Schools of Theory and Practice, pp. 28-74


Session 3: October20: The process of change and its neurobiological underpinnings
Facilitator(s): Elizabeth Wallace, MD, FRCPC, FIPA, Michelle van den Engh, MD, FRCPC

Readings:
1. Lemma, Chap 3: The Process of Change, pp 75-93
2. Solms, M. L. (2018). The neurobiological underpinnings of psychoanalytic theory and therapy. Front Behav Neurosci, 12, 294, 1-13


Session 4: November 3: The Analytic Setting and the Analytic Attitude
Facilitator(s): Endre Koritar, MD, FRCPC, FIPA, Rodrigo Gomez, Ma.P.P.

Readings:
1. Lemma. Chap 4: The Analytic Setting and the Analytic Attitude, pp. 94-127
2. Freud, S. (1912). Recommendations to Physicians Practicing Psychoanalysis. SE. 12: 111-120


Session 5: November 10: Unconscious Communication
Facilitator(s): Richa Sharan, MD, FRCPC, FIPA, Auby Axler, MD, FRCPC

Readings:
1. Lemma, Chap 6: Unconscious Communication, pp. 169-193
2. Casement, P. (1985) Learning from the Patient. The Gilford Press: London. Chap 4: Forms of Interactive Communication, pp 64-86


Session 6: November 17: Holding and Containing
Facilitator(s): Janet Oakes, M.A., BC-ATP, FIPA, Karla Maranhao, MSc, RCC.

Readings:
1. Casement, ibid: Chap 6: Key Dynamics of Containment, pp. 111-128
2. Ogden, T.H. (2004). On holding and containing, being and dreaming. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 85:1349-1364


Session 7: December 1: Navigating the Stormy Waters
Facilitator(s): Coleen Gold, M.A., BC-ATR, FIPA, David Kealy, Ph.D, RSW

Readings:
1. Lemma: Chap 8: Transference and Countertransference, pp. 219-268
2. McWilliams, N. (2011). Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (2nd ed.) : Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. Guilford Publications.

  • Chapters 5: Primary (Primitive) Defensive Processes, pp. 110-125
  • Chapter 6: Secondary Defensive Processes, pp. 126-148

Session 8: December 15: Where are we and what’s next?
Moderator: Jo Hoffman, MD, FRCPC, FIPA
Panel: Elizabeth Wallace (TA), MD, FRCPC, FIPA, Judith Setton-Markus, (WB Member) M.Ed., R. Psych., FIPA. Michelle van den Engh (recent graduate) MD, FRCPC, Erin Burrel (AIT) MD., FRCPC

In this session, there will be another group of panelists with whom participants will have the opportunity for further discussion about psychoanalytic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy training. The session will follow the same format as session 1 and participants and encouraged to generate questions from the presentations, panel discussion and background readings.

Readings:
1. Ogden, T. H. (2005). The Art of Psychoanalysis. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. London.

  • Chapter 2: What I Would Not Part With, pp. 19-26
  • Chap 5: What’s True and Whose Idea Was it? pp. 61-76