Freud Plus 120 Years—An Update on Current Psychoanalytic Theory

The challenge put forth in this course is for the participant to develop better understanding of contemporary psychoanalytic concepts and the psychodynamic growth-change-healing process.

• Theoretical Presentation (10-12:00/2 hr. session)
  • Definitions & Four Basic Questions Addressed by Psychoanalytic Thought
• Lunch (1 hour)
• Evolution (1:00-3:00/2 hr. session)
  • Five Major Post Freudian Psychoanalytic Schools and Theoreticians
  • The Evolution: How Each School Diverged from Classical Freudian Perspective
• Break (:15)
• Group Discussion & Supervision (3:15-5:15/2 hr. session)
  • The Growth-Healing Change process in contemporary psychoanalytic thought when working with clients/patient
  • Supervision & discussion of real examples of client/patient interactions.

1. Definitions:
   1. Psychoanalysis
   2. Psychoanalytic Thought
   3. Psychodynamic
2. Four Basic Questions Addressed by Psychoanalytic Thought
   1. What is primary to human motivation?
   2. What fundamentally shapes the human psyche?
   3. What is the essence of the human condition?
   4. What are the sources and cures of psychopathology?
3. Freud’s Six Greatest Hits (1895-1923)
   1. 1895 Studies in Hysteria
   2. 1896 Coined the term Psychoanalysis
   3. 1900 Introduced the topographical model of mental functioning
   4. 1905 Theories of sexuality (Oedipus Complex)
   5. 1914 “On Narcissism” (primary & secondary)
   6. 1923 Structural Model (Id, ego, super-ego)
4. How Freud’s Concepts and Theories Address the “Four Basic Questions”
   1. One Person intrapsychic model
   2. Drive-Discharge Theory
   3. Conflict Model
   4. A Psychodynamic Model
5. One Person vs. Two Person Psychology
   1. Major early conflicts with. . .
   2. C. Young
   3. A. Adler
   4. S. Ferenczi
6. What Freud Got Very Right and Very Wrong
   1. Importance of unconscious processes (VR)
   2. View of women (i.e. penis envy etc.,) (VW)
   3. No testable hypotheses (VW)
   4. Humans are naturally object-seeking (VW)
   5. Importance of the interpersonal/intersubjective experience (VW)
7. The Five Major Post Freudian Psychoanalytic Schools and Theoreticians
   1. Ego Psychology
   2. Object Relations Theory
   3. Self Psychology
   4. Intersubjective Systems Theory
   5. Relationally focused Psychotherapy
8. The Evolution: How Each School Diverged from Classical Freudian Perspective
   1. Emphasis on early developmental experience
   2. Understanding the importance of early object relations dynamics
   3. Moving away from Drive-Discharge model
   4. Viewing the sense of self and self-development as of primary importance
   5. Recognizing key importance of intrapsychic organizing principles in human behavior
9. The Evolving Relational Perspective in Contemporary Psychoanalytic Thought
   1. The therapist is not a blank screen
   2. How the therapist sees and interacts with the client/patient during sessions is of utmost importance to the success of growth-healing-change process.
10. The Growth-Healing-Change Process in Contemporary Psychoanalytic Thought When Working with Clients/Patients (CP).
    1. Establish an empathically attuned “WE Space” with CP.
    2. Become a reliable self object for the CP.
    3. Elucidate unconscious negative organizing principles
    4. Help CP integrate their Vulnerable Self and their Ideal Self.
    5. Help CP improve their relational fittedness and have happier healthier more productive relationships in their live.