This course will span the academic year – 18 classes – and will explore the context and development of the basic but complex object relations concepts arising from Freud and expanded upon by Klein and later theorists and clinicians. We will also consider necessary conditions for growing a mind, and the clinical implications when that process is affected by neglect or trauma. 

Fall quarter will outline Klein’s expansion of Freud’s idea of psychic reality and the concepts that Klein (and others) developed from this. We will look at the British Object Relations constructs of mental processes, such as unconscious phantasy, internal objects, and the depressive and paranoid-schizoid positions. 

Dates:  6 Tuesdays:  Sept 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8,15

Winter quarter will introduce the question: How does a mind grow? This quarter attempts to work with some of the central concepts and processes that are useful in considering the complexities of how a mind grows. The concepts of projective identification and container/contained will be introduced as well as the processes of transference and countertransference.

Dates: 6 Tuesdays:Jan 7, 14, 21, 28, Feb. 4,11

Spring quarter will consider psychopathology from the British Object Relations viewpoint. In this quarter we will think about major areas of psychological problems, including narcissism and narcissistic character structure, psychic retreats and pathological organizations, and trauma. We will read key papers, but mostly use our clinical experience to think about these important issues.

Dates: 6 Tuesdays:  April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19

Fee:  Members before August 16  $900.  After August 16: $1000.  Non-members: Before August 16;  $1200, After August 16: $1350  Scholarships available to members.

Several video slots open. Contact office@nwfdc.org before registering if you are interested in connecting with the class via Zoom