IPI SLC Certificate Program: Foundations of Object Relations Psychotherapy

LOCATION:
Converse 104, Westminster College

DATES and TIMES: (Tuesdays, 7:15 - 9:15 pm): Oct 27, Nov 10, Dec 1, Dec 15, Jan 12, Jan 26, Feb 9, Feb 23, Mar 9, Mar 23, Apr 6, Apr 13

COST: $520; $260 for students

CE CREDITS: 24

CLASS SCHEDULE: The following is a tentative schedule for class topics:

Class #1: Introduction to Object Relations Therapy: Overview of central concepts; History of the development of the OR approach

Class #2: The Therapeutic Frame: Setting and managing the therapeutic stance; Creating and maintaining the frame

Class #3: Beginning Therapy: Assessment Phase: Diagnostic background; The psychodynamic case formulation; Central diagnostic considerations (Ego strength; Basic defenses; Mentalization and reflective function; Attachment style, etc.); Normal Developmental Sequence

Class #4: Beginning Therapy: The Therapeutic Agreement and Alliance: The alliance in psychodynamic therapy; Managing ruptures in the alliance

Class #5: Therapeutic Relationship: Transference: Foundations of transference (Internal object relationships; Evolution of internal object relationships; Internal object world of patient displaced into the treatment); Kinds of transference; Methods of managing and analyzing transference; Why is transference analysis helpful?

Class #6: Projective and Introjective Identification: Universality of PI and II in the therapeutic relationship; The projective/introjective cycle (in mother/child interaction; in therapy); Containment as a foundational aspect of the healthy projective/introjective cycle; Containment as a curative factor in therapy

Class #7: Therapeutic Relationship: Countertransference: Foundations of countertransference in projective and introjective identification; Types of countertransference; Use and management of countertransference

Class #8: Middle Phase: Ways of Organizing Experience: Klein’s Paranoid/Schizoid and Depressive Positions; Ogden's Autistic/Contiguous Position; Attachment Styles (Basic Styles; How attachment styles affect presentation in therapy; The therapist’s own style and its impact)

Class #9: Middle Phase: Defenses: Primary defenses associated with each position (Splitting, repression, projection in the P/S; Ego-related defenses in the depressive position; Autistic objects and autistic shapes)

Class #10: Middle Phase: The Role of Trauma: Trauma’s distortion of normal development; Dissociative states; Dissociative Identity Disorder

Class #11: Further Considerations: Gender, Race, Class, Sexual Orientation, Cultural Identifications (How each of these affect the therapeutic relationship, potential transferences and countertransferences, therapeutic strategies used, expectations, goals, and aims of therapy); Hostile/Suicidal patients; Attacks on the therapist/therapeutic relationship; Attacks on the frame

Class #12: Termination: Determining when it’s time to terminate; Transference issues in termination; Countertransference issues in termination