CLINICAL PROCESS AND TECHNIQUE I:
THE THERAPEUTIC IDEA
CLDL 521
Michele Rivette, LMSW, ACSW, BCD
Fall 2009
Course Description:
This is the first semester in the year-long study of the psychotherapeutic process. The idea of the “psychotherapeutic” will be explored in relation to (1) historical developments; (2) socio-cultural contexts; and, (3) a range of psychotherapeutic conceptualizations and approaches with an emphasis on psychoanalytically-informed understanding of the therapeutic. This will also include an emphasis on therapeutic action and activity relative to the therapist’s use of self. Institutional as well as individual psychotherapeutic approaches will be examined in an effort to reveal common therapeutic ideas and to reflect the diversity of practice settings.
Course Objectives:
- To develop an understanding of what constitutes the “psychotherapeutic.”
- To place contemporary understandings of the therapeutic in historical and socio-cultural perspective.
- To develop an understanding of psychodynamic technique in relation to theories of normal development; development gone awry, and the type of activities required of the therapist and the client to enact the therapeutic idea.
Required Texts:
- McWilliams, Nancy (2004). Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. New York: The Guilford Press.
- Mitchell, Stephen, and Black, Margaret J. (1995). Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. New York: Basic Books.
- Symington, Neville (1996). The Making of a Psychotherapist. International Universities Press.
- Articles in the ICSW on-line library.
Course Requirements:
I ascribe to a teacher/learner model that says that the best learning often comes from teaching others, i.e. sharing the teacher and learner roles. To this end, one assignment will be for each learner participant in the course to teach a particular reading or topic of interest. You may work in pairs as we will not start this until the 3rd class, which will leave five class periods for teacher/learner presentations. You may be as creative as you like. There are some limitations due to the distance learning format of the course, but you might brainstorm creative ways in which to impart the material to your colleagues in the course beyond a straight lecture format. Or, if you are most comfortable with a lecture format, that is fine, also.
The second assignment is to write an essay about the psychotherapeutic milieu in which you currently practice and how you might be able to use psychoanalytic theory to enhance your clinical work, even if you are working in a more “evidence-based,” or “shorter-term therapy” setting. Please include any impact of the particular socio-cultural environment in which you practice (e.g. race/ethnicity considerations; gender considerations; unique cultures such as military or faith-based institutions). If you are currently treating clients, you might include a clinical example to illustrate your ideas. Another avenue, especially if you are not currently treating clients, would be to consider how your personal history and background might influence what psychoanalytic theories to which you are attracted and why. This will be due by the 6th class session.
The third assignment is to write a brief (2-4 pages) essay, from a strictly personal perspective, about your “view of the psychotherapeutic” and what personal qualities you bring to the work that might require vigilance about certain occupational hazards or potential counter-transferences and therapeutic impasses. How are you addressing these issues as you advance in your clinical career? This will be due the last day of class.
Except in cases of extreme personal emergency (requiring permission from the instructor before the last class day), there will be no ‘Incompletes’ given for the class. Assignments turned in late will not be accepted.
Evaluation:
Written work will be evaluated on quality of writing, complexity and independence of thought, and ability to express ideas authentically and honestly. Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated, and ideas belonging to others (including the internet) must be cited using APA guidelines.
Overall class grades will be based on the following: Quality of class participation and teaching: 50%, Essay I: 30%; Essay II: 20%.
Instructor:
Students can contact me at 734-930-2200, or at Michele.rivette@gmail.com. I am rarely at the Institute, so please do not leave messages for me there. My mailing address is: 1115 Henry Street, Ann Arbor, MI 4810
Course Outline:
Class 1: What is Psychotherapy?
Casement, Patrick (1985). Learning from the Patient. The Guilford Press.
McWilliams, Nancy (2004). “Preface (pp. ix-xvii), “What defines Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy?” (pp. 1-26). In Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. The Guilford Press.
Symington, Neville (1996). “Introduction” (pp. xiii-xvii), “The traditions and practices of psychotherapy” (pp. 3-10), “The psychotherapist’s education” (pp. 11-22), and “The analyst’s inner task” (pp. 23-34). In The Making of a Psychotherapist. International Universities Press.
Class 2: Social and Historical Observations on the Therapeutic Idea
Edward, Joyce, and Sanville, Jean B. [editors] (1996). “Prelude” (pp. xxi-xxiv), “Applying Psychoanalytic Principles to Social Work Practice: An Historical Review" (Strean, Herbert, pp. 1-22). In Fostering Healing and Growth: A Psychoanalytic Social Work Approach. Jason Aronson Press.
Frank, JD, and Frank, JB (1993). “A conceptual Framework for Psychotherapy” (pp. 21-51). In Persuasion and Healing: A Comparative Study of Psychotherapy. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Mitchell, Stephen, and Black, Margaret J. (1995). “Preface” (pp. xv-xxiii).” In Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. Basic Books.
Class 3: The Therapeutic Idea Organizing an Institution
Edward, Joyce, and Sanville, Jean B. [editors] (1996). “A Clinical View of the Use of Psychoanalytic Theory in Front-Line Practice” (Margaret G. Frank, pp. 59-76). In Fostering Healing and Growth: A Psychoanalytic Social Work Approach. Jason Aronson Press.
Bettelheim, B. (1974). “From Pilgrimage to Psychoanalytic Setting” (pp.201-213). In A Home for the Heart. Knopf.
Class 4: Individual Psychotherapy and the Therapeutic Idea
McWilliams, Nancy (2004). “The Psychoanalytic Sensibility” (pp. 27-45), “Preparing the Client” (pp. 76-98), “Boundaries I: The Frame,” “(pp. 99-131), “Basic Therapy Processes (pp. 132-162). In Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. The Guilford Press.
Class 5: Theories and Techniques in Individual Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Mitchell, Stephen, and Black, Margaret J. (1995). “Sigmund Freud and the Classical Psychoanalytic Tradition” (pp. 1-22), “Ego Psychology” (pp. 23-59), “Melanie Klein and Contemporary Kleinian Theory” (pp. 85-111). In Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. Basic Books.
Class 6: More on Theories and Techniques in Individual Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Mitchell, Stephen, and Black, Margaret J. (1995). “The British Object Relations School: W.R.D. Fairbairn and D.W. Winnicott” (pp. 112-138), “Psychologies of Identity and Self: Erik Erikson and Heinz Kohut” (pp. 139-169), Contemporary Freudian Revisionists: Otto Kernberg, Roy Schafer, Hans Loewwald, and Jacques Lacan” (pp. 170-205). In Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. Basic Books.
Class 7: Controversies in Theory and Technique
McWilliams, Nancy (2004). “Boundaries II: Quandaries” (pp. 163-196). In Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. The Guilford Press.
Mitchell, Stephen, and Black, Margaret J. (1995). “Controversies in Theory” (pp. 206-228), “Controversies in Technique” (pp. 229-253). In Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. Basic Books.
Class 8: The Personal and Professional Challenges of the Psychoanalytic Attitude
McWilliams, Nancy (2004). “The Therapist’s Preparation” (pp. 46-72), “Occupational Hazards and Gratifications” (pp. 260-284), “Self-Care” (pp. 285-303). In Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s Guide.
Symington, Neville (1996). “Self-esteem in analyst and patient” (pp. 61-73). In The Making of a Psychotherapist. International Universities Press.
Symington, Neville (1983). The Analyst’s Act of Freedom as Agent of Therapeutic Change. International Review of Psycho-Analysis, 10: 283-291.