CL 511 Case Conference I
Fall 2009
M. Kim Sarasohn, PhD, Instructor
(212) 873-2694 (office)
mksarasohn@gmail.com
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the process of thinking psychodynamically and psychotherapeutically from the first moment of client contact. The emphasis is on the therapist’s self-awareness as the primary tool for conducting a psychodynamic assessment and psychotherapy.
Using core concepts of transference, countertransference, therapeutic alliance, therapeutic contract, developmental frameworks, treatment phase and motivation, among others, we will examine in detail the therapist’s attitude, activity and interventions. We will study the therapeutic encounter as it informs the clinical evaluation of the client.
In addition, the readings will focus on issues of psychodynamic formulation. This semester will help students address the concepts necessary to the writing component of the clinical practicum.
Course Objectives:
- Students will understand the clinical attitude necessary for psychodynamic assessment and therapy
- Students will develop self-awareness as primary tool for assessment
- Students will use core concepts of psychodynamic practice to examine the clinical interview
- Students will practice writing a psychodynamic assessment with emphasis on psychodynamic formulation
Basis for Grade:
These four components are equally weighted in determining course grade:
- Active contribution to class discussion.
- Presentation of a detailed case write up accompanied by process recordings from 2 successive sessions of a recent or current case that is in any phase of therapy.
-The presentation of the write up should follow the Case Study Outline.
-The process recording should be as full a recalled(from memory)transcript of sessions as possible. It should resemble a script.
The case must be emailed to the instructor and all class members at least three days before class. This is to allow students and instructor time to review the material before the presentation.
- Presentation of readings for class discussion including:
- Outline of major points without extraneous detail
- Questions to stimulate discussion
- Written Assignment:
Using the Case Study Outline from the ICSW Student Manual students will choose either a past or current case to write a case report. The case does not have to be the same case that you present in class.
-It is expected that not all information asked for in the Outline will be known by the student, but that a reasonable and earnest attempt be made with available data to examine the case as fully as possible.
-The assignment for this semester is to write a complete assessment with focus on the psychodynamic formulation.
-The assessment should be between 5-9 pages in length.
- The assessment will be due at the eighth class.
Required Text:
McWilliams, N. (1999). Psychoanalytic Case Formulation. New York: The Guilford Press.
Course Assignments:
Class 1:
Case Study Outline and Introduction
Discussion of: McWilliams, Nancy (1999). Psychoanalytic Case Formulation. New York: The Guilford Press. Chapter 1.
Class 2:
Discussion of: Weiss, Joseph (1993). How Psychotherapy Works. New York: The Guilford Press. Introduction and Chapter 4.
Student Case Presentation
Class 3:
Discussion of: Lane, R. C. (1993). The ego in diagnosis. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 23 (4), pp. 251-254.
Student Case Presentation
Class 4:
Discussion of: Perry, S., Cooper, A.M. and Michels, R. (May, 1987). The psychodynamic formulation: Its purpose, structure, and clinical application. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144(5), pp. 543-550.
Summers, R. F. (2003). The psychodynamic formulation updated. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 57 (1), pp. 39-51.
Student Case Presentation
Class 5:
Discussion of: McWilliams, Nancy (1999). Psychoanalytic Case Formulation. New York: The Guilford Press. Chapter 3.
Student Case Presentation
Class 6:
Discussion of: McWilliams, Nancy (1999). Psychoanalytic Case Formulation. New York: The Guilford Press. Chapter 4.
Student Case Presentation
Class 7:
Discussion of: Mace, C. & Binyon, S. (2005). Teaching psychodynamic formulation to psychiatric trainees part I: Basics of formulation. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, Vol. 11, 416-423.
Student Case Presentation
Class 8:
Discussion of: Kassaw, Kristin and Gabbard, Glen O. (2002). Creating a psychoanalytic formulation from a clinical evaluation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159:721-726, May 2002.
Student Case Presentation