The Work of Joseph Newirth: Preparatory Course For Newirth Symposium

This course is an introduction to Joseph Newirth’s work, and will be based on his most recently published book. The class will trace the evolution of concepts of symbolization, alpha function, reverie, the container-contained, and the use of transitional experiences to integrate these concepts with the relational paradigm emphasizing the transformation of concrete experiences and enactments within the transference-countertransference relationship into metaphorical symbolic experiences. Newirth offers an opportunity to bring developmental, cognitive and neuropsychological concepts into a mutually influencing, beneficial dialogue of the human sciences. Clinically, Newirth focuses on the transformation of signs and symbols in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and psychoanalytic supervision. He focuses on the development of the capacity for symbolization in patients, therapists and supervisors. He describes the process of transforming concrete experiences into symbolic experience, how we move from being reactive to the push and pull of inner and outer stimuli, to becoming self-reflective, thoughtful and able to understand another’s mental states and act intentionally.

Each seminar of this course will consist of discussing an assigned reading followed by a clinical discussion. This course consists of 6 seminars, meeting between June and November 2019. It is an open course; participants may apply to join after the course has begun.

^{Photo Credits: Reece Steinberg, “Iceberg Birch”, 2014, Acrylic}

Learning Objectives
After each unit of this course, participants can expect to have…

1. Enhanced familiarity with the psychoanalytic approach of Dr. Joseph Newirth, including the transformation of signs and symbols in psychotherapy, the development of the capacity for symbolization, and the process of transforming concrete experiences into symbolic experience.
2. Increased skill in the practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy; and
3. Increased ability to think about psychoanalytic psychotherapy in a group setting.

 

Group Leaders: Paul Steinberg, MD, FRCPC, FIPA, and Janet Oakes, MA, BCATP, FIPA

Readings are all from:

From Sign to Symbol: Transformational Processes in Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy, and Psychology: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Assessment in the Twenty-first Century by Joseph Newirth (New York: Lexington Books, 2018).

Seminar 1 September 6, 2019 Paul Steinberg
Introduction: Lost in the Fog: Theory, Clinical Practice and Research. p. xi
Chapter 1: From Sign to Symbol: The evolution of psychoanalysis from a search for truth to the creation of meaning

Seminar 2 September 13,  2019 Paul Steinberg
@Suite 420 – 5950 University Blvd, Vancouver BC
Chapter 2: Transformational Models in Psychology, Neuropsychology and Psychoanalysis p.19

Seminar 3 September 27, 2019 Janet Oakes
Chapter  5: Pleasure, Desire and Symbolization in the Psychotherapeutic Relationship p. 69
Chapter 6: Dissociative Processes as a Failure of Symbolic Functioning and Mentalization p. 87

Seminar 4 October 11, 2019 Paul Steinberg
Chapter 3: Dreams in Culture and Psychoanalysis p.41
Chapter 4: Humor as a Universal Human Emotion p.53

Seminar 5 November 1, 2019 Janet Oakes
Chapter 7:  The Broken Container: Developing Symbolic Processes in Psychotherapy p. 99

Seminar 6 November 22, 2019 Janet Oakes
Chapter 8: Learning to ride a Bicycle: Procedural and Discursive Processes in Supervision p. 117
Chapter 9: Transformational Processes in Psychotherapy: Metaphor, Symbol, and Self-Reflective Thought p. 129