Development II: 6 to 12 Years

Fourth Year Adult Psychoanalytic Training (APT)
2021-22, 2nd Trimester — Fridays, 1:45-3:15pm
Ashley Harmon, MD

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Introduction

Welcome to your second course on human development, historically called the “latency period” of childhood development.  We will find throughout this course that the word “latency” does not accurately describe middle childhood.  My objective is to co-create with you, a safe and dynamic learning environment, and I hope we can enjoy ourselves as we discuss this vibrant topic.  We will be exploring the central foundations of human development between the ages of 6-12 years and why it is important to the clinical practice throughout the lifespan.

Psychoanalytic theories will guide us through various areas of development and how the internal life of a child and the external world (family, school, community, treatment) facilitate or alter developmental progression.   Through the lens of modern psychoanalytic research, contemporary authors, and case material, we will discuss various symptoms and clinical treatment.

My goal is to offer diverse readings that will stimulate curiosity and class discussion about theory and practice.  I prefer to not overload with reading quantity and instead allow us to dive into the topics in the articles we read together.   Zoom teaching is new to me, so please offer feedback about readings vs discussion time.   The optional readings are truly optional.  If there is a particular interest, we can select optional readings if desired.  Readings each week includes case illustrations.

Some classes include a children’s book to put us in the mindset of a school-age child and offer examples of using language and metaphor to play.  These are optional and intended for fun.

Before each class, I’ll email the cohort some questions intended to facilitate class discussions.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, the clinical associates will be able to:

1. Understand significant developmental milestones and common themes in middle childhood period across various domains of functioning.
2. List the central theoretical concepts of human development between 6-12 years using various psychoanalytic theories. This will provide an important way of understanding and treating patients of all ages.
3. Identify common psychodynamic conflicts and symptoms that present during this development period.
4. Identify clinical principles and techniques applicable to the treatment of child, adolescent, and adult patients utilizing developmental knowledge, like transference, play, metaphor, and nonlinear conceptualizations of growth.
5. Discuss contemporary social issues to facilitate an understanding of how to clinically work with diverse groups of people and contemplate complex systemic issues that promote discrimination of people of diversity through the lens of psychoanalytic thinking.Often in psychoanalysis we think in terms of the individual, and larger applications of psychoanalytic thinking are also needed as we consider larger issues facing our children and our world.

January 7, 2022 — Introduction and Conceptual History of Middle Childhood

[33 pages]

The readings will introduce conceptualizations of human development from ages 6-12.  Historical and modern contexts are introduced through the lens of a contemporary psychoanalytic researcher.  The optional reading reviews 4 key areas of neuroscience that anchor our professional doctrine, relationships change the brain throughout life.

Deak, J. (2010). Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It. Little Pickle Press, Inc.

Knight, R. (2014). A Hundred Years of Latency: From Freudian Psychosexual Theory to Dynamic Systems Nonlinear Development in Middle Childhood. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 62(2):203-235.

Optional Reading

Gold, C. (2017) Ch 6, “How Relationships Change the Brain” in The Developmental Science of Early Childhood: Clinical Applications of Infant Mental Health Concepts from Infancy through Adolescence, pp129-157.