Relational Theory

Integrated Child & Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (ICAPP)
2020-21, 4th Block — Mondays, 6:30-7:45pm
Karen Weisbard, PsyD
Michael R. Allison, MA LMHC

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Introduction

Our principal text will be the book: Barsness, Roy (Ed.). (2018) Core Competencies of Relational Psychoanalysis; A Guide to Practice, Study and Research. NY: Routledge. This book is organized with individual chapters written by many of the key figures in contemporary relational psychoanalysis. You can purchase this book through Routledge, Relational Perspective Book Series or Amazon.

There is never enough time to cover all that excites us and requires our attention in these challenging times. The podcast, the chapter on culture, and the final article by Francisco Gonzales will hopefully offer a taste of how others are thinking about the complexity of our external and internal worlds.

Karen Weisbard is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice working with adults, leading consult groups for therapists interested in deepening their understanding and clinical practice in relational psychoanalysis and writing and presenting on intersubjectivity. She is on the faculty at SPSI.

Michael Allison is a psychotherapist in private practice with adolescents and adults. He is a graduate of SPSI’s adult and child psychotherapy programs and has a background in film studies and music production.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. identify the characteristics associated with early, middle, late adolescence, and emerging adulthood.
2. understand primary developmental themes: individuation, identity, gendered experience, sexuality, and developing resilience.
3. describe the manic defenses, transference implications, and common countertransference experiences when working with adolescents.
4. apply knowledge of adolescent development to work with adults.

April 5, 2021

Prior to class listen to an episode of your choice from the podcasts:

• Between Us: A Psychotherapy Podcast by a local therapist, John Totten
• Couched, a podcast by Billie Pivnick, or
• New Books in Psychoanalysis.

These podcasts will give you a flavor of what relational psychoanalysts are thinking and speaking about.

Introductions: A little bit about yourself (this might be repetition, but Michael and I will want to know more about you); What do you most hope to learn about in this class? What are the general and/or specific issues you find yourself struggling with in the current climate of the world and clinical practice? What podcast episode did you listen to, what did you think and feel about it?

This class will be recorded for Michael only as he will not be able to attend the first class. Please let me know if you have any objections. It will be deleted once Michael listens to it.