Child & Adolescent Case Conference (CAS-CL 715)
Winter 2010-2012
Instructor: Joe Palombo;
jp@josephpalombo.com;
Phone: 847/432-7130
Course Description
In this course, students will take turns presenting cases of children and adolescents whom they are currently seeing in
treatment. The focus will be
a. On diagnostic considerations
b. Specific aspects of the treatment process
c. The management of relationships to parents, teachers, and others involved with the patient.
Course Objectives
a. To help students identify the relative importance of neuropsychological, social, and intrapsychic
factors as contributors the presenting problems.
b. To assist students to identify treatment goals and interventions to achieve those goals.
c. To bring to students’ awareness the psychodynamics that motivate the patients’ thoughts, feelings,
and behaviors.
d. To address issues of transference and countertransference as these may manifest during the
treatment process.
Evaluation
a. Students are expected to be prepared to present cases and write up diagnostic formulations and
summaries of the treatment process.
b. Course participation and contribution to class discussion.
c. Completion of the end of semester of a written assignment. This assignment, which will be due on
Janauary 21st, 2012, will consist of a 15-page paper on a topic related to issues of diagnosis or
treatment or a detailed writeup of a case. The paper must demonstrate that you have read the
pertinent literature. You may email me paper to: jp@josephpalombo.com.
References:
Franzen, M. D. and R. A. Berg (1998). Screening Children for Brain Impairment, Second Edition. NY, Springer
Publishing Co.
This book seeks to alert the general child clinician to procedures that can be employed without the additional
specialized training of a child clinical neuropsychologist. The book is intended to educate the general child
clinician is to the various types of disorders and their clinical presentations . Furthermore it attempts to demystify
the language and procedures of the child clinical neuropsychologist in order to further communicate between the
generalist and specialist, thereby having a favorable impact on the overall level of patient care. For that reason, it
includes a glossary of common technical terms.
Palombo, J. (2001). Learning disorders & disorders of the self in children & adolescents. New York, W.W. Norton.
Palombo, J. (2006). Nonverbal learning disabilities: A clinical perspective. NY, W. W. Norton.
Palombo, J. (1985). "Self psychology and countertransference in the treatment of children." Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal 2(1): 36-48.
Palombo, J. (1987). Selfobject transferences in the treatment of borderline neurocognitively impaired children. The
Borderline Patient. J. S. Grotstein, M. F. Solomon and J. A. Lang. Hillsdale, New Jersey, The Analytic Press: 317-346.
Palombo, J. (1994). "Incoherent self-narratives and disorders of the self in children with learning disabilities." Smith
College Studies in Social Work 64(2): 129-152.
Palombo, J. (1995). Psychodynamic and relational problems of children with nonverbal learning disabilities. The
Handbook of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy: A guide to Diagnosis and Treatment. Volume I. B. S.
Mark and J. A. Incorvaia. New Jersey, Jason Aronson. 1: 147-176.
Palombo, J. (1996). "The diagnosis and treatment of children with nonverbal learning disabilities." Child& Adolescent Social Work Journal 13(4): 311-332.
Palombo, J. (2001). "The therapeutic process with children with learning disorders." Psychoanalytic Social Work
8(3/4): 143-168.
Palombo, J. (2011). Executive function conditions and self-deficits. Mental Health and social Problems: A social
work perspective. N. H. Heller and A. Gitterman. New York, Routledge: 282-312.
Palombo, J. and A. H. Berenberg (1997). Psychotherapy for children with nonverbal learning disabilities. The
Handbook of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: New Direction in Integrative Treatment. B. S. Mark and
J. A. Incorvaia. Northvale, New Jersey, Jason Aronson. 2: 25-68.
Topics to be covered:
I. Diagnostic Considerations
A. Conceptual approaches to diagnosis
B. Diagnostic process: How do we get that information?
C. The Dx interview with the child
D. Information from collateral sources
E. Written report
1. Formulation
2. Recommendations
F. Parent conference
II. The Treatment Process
A. Theoretical orientation
B. Concordant moments:
1. The therapeutic alliance
2. The observing ego
3. Empathy
C. Complementary moments
1. Transferences
2. Defense transferences
3. Insight
4. Working through
5. Termination
D. Disjunctive moments
III. Clinical Issues
J. Palombo
July 14, 2011
C:\1Data\1Data ICSW Cources\Case Conf\Case Conf 11-12\Syllabus 2011-2012.wpd