With all of the theories and knowledge and wisdom of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy—now, more than ever—at our fingertips, what (and how and when) do we make use of these when we are actually sitting with another complicated person? How do we begin to distill and understand the essences of these many ideas to not only to change our own souls, but also the souls of others? How do we creatively become the kind of psychotherapist that is not only helpful and kind, but transformative and challenging? The psychoanalyst Neville Symington has written a fantastically engaging and helpful look at all of these complicated questions and has developed a guide of this lifelong art of becoming a creatively effective, balanced, useful psychotherapist. Symington, known as a well-rounded and experiential learner, includes major contributions and themes from Freud, Klein, Bion, Winnicott, Fairbairn, Jung, and Fromm throughout. His communication of them are succinct, pragmatic, inspiring and accessible to any who are just starting in this task of therapy, or who has practiced for many, many years and would like to revisit the foundations of our complicated task.
Over six weeks, not only will we read the entirety of this thoughtful book, we will also share our time reflecting, conversing, and engaging one another around these provocative topics. Explorative questions will be asked for us all to grapple with, as well as the ability to discuss real case material in which we’ll use the learned concepts to think how this particular style of practicing would look and sound like.
Instructor: D. Michael Louderback, MA, LMHC is a passionate and eclectic psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice in Seattle, WA for over a decade. He has instructed numerous courses and groups throughout Puget Sound—primarily at The Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Study, The Center for Object Relations, The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, and Shelterwood Collective. His clinical passions include supervision and consultation, narcissism, shame, and queer issues, as well as ferocious reading and writing.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this class, participants will be able to:
- Contrast the vast and varied history of psychoanalytic thought and how they are each applied.
- Describe the crucial use of imagination in treating psychic pain.
- Understand more fully how to be an effective, holistic, embodied psychotherapist.
- Differentiate various forms of complex transference and countertransference experiences.
Fees: $350 for Alliance Members and $375 for non-Alliance members.
Class Size: Class is limited to a maximum of 15 participants.
Refund Policy: Refunds less a $30 handling fee will be given up until one week before the first class.
