Fundamental Concepts and Techniques of Dynamic Psychotherapy

Fundamental Concepts and Techniques of Dynamic Psychotherapy is a one year introductory psychodynamic training for recent graduates and those interested in or returning to clinical practice. This Introductory Psychotherapy Program is designed to assist students continue their professional growth and increase their theoretical knowledge and psychotherapy skills. Trained therapists teach central concepts, and present and discuss relevant clinical material in addition to supervising aspects of clinical work. Students completing the program gain a working knowledge of core psychodynamic language and concepts, and an ability to read and understand psychodynamic literature.

CURRICULUM

  • What is the model and theory of dynamic psychotherapy? The therapeutic vs. the real relationship; an overview of transference; the therapeutic alliance; the unconscious; making the initial phone contact; the early sessions; establishing the framework and boundaries of the psychotherapeutic hour—place, time, money, cancellation policy.
  • Fundamental concepts of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Unconscious mental processes, fantasy, unconscious and conscious, compromise formations, drive, defense, therapeutic resistances, psychic determinism, repetition compulsion, normal development, psychopathology.
  • Transference. Definition of transference; how psychotherapy elicits transference; examples of transference during initial phone contact; open sessions and middle phase of treatment; working with transference.
    Countertransference. Various psychodynamic understandings of countertransference; illustration of the continuum from conscious to unconscious countertransference; how the therapist becomes aware of countertransference and uses it.
  • Middle phase of psychotherapy. How psychotherapy unfolds; how the therapist applies the basic concepts in the ongoing work of psychotherapy, e.g. identification of the resistances and defenses in the course of a psychodynamic treatment.
  • Termination of psychotherapy. Definitions and history of termination; differences between planned and unplanned termination.; how to apply central concepts to termination; transference and countertransference in termination.

SUPERVISION

Students are required to have a minimum of 25 hours of supervision with a faculty member each year.

SCHEDULE

Classes meet Tuesday evenings from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. There are 30 classes in the program.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION

Applicants must have an advanced degree in a mental health field. The class is designed for new graduates as well as students with advanced degrees who have not provided psychotherapy in the course of their professional careers.

FACULTY

Lenore Shapiro, MSW, Co-Chair
Carol Hindle, MSW, Co-Chair
Faculty
Jean Campbell, MSW
Diane Dowling, MSW, PhD
Patricia Garcia-Golding, MSW
Linda Kanefield, PhD
Ruth Neubauer MSW
Mark Robinson, PhD

TUITION

Tuition for the 2011–2012 academic year is $1,200.
Supervision is $55 per session.

 Limited scholarship money may be available, based on need and merit. See