CF 702
Psychodynamic Psychology VI:
Relational Theory

Spring, 2008 

Carol Ganzer, PhD
cganzer@icsw.edu
773/339-8486

Course Description
This course will introduce students to the concepts of relational theory and acquaint them with the representative theorists, as well as examine the usefulness of relational theory in practice and its relationship to other psychoanalytic theories. The course will be conducted as a seminar, and students will be responsible for reflecting upon and integrating the readings into class discussions and applying the theory to clinical case material.
 

Goals

1. Students will become familiar with the concepts of relational theory.
2. Place relational theory in the context of psychoanalytic theory.
3. Gain an understanding of the clinical implications of relational theory.

Evaluation
Grades will be based 50% on class participation and 50% on written assignments.
Each student will be responsible for leading the class discussion in one article or book chapter. 
 

Written Assignments
Present a brief written case vignette for class discussion.  The case should illustrate a theoretical concept identified in the course readings.

Write an 8 page paper on the clinical vignette, discussing how the readings and class discussions have influenced your understanding and clinical work with the patient. Due the final class session
 

Attendance Policy
Regular class attendance is required.  No more than two absences will be allowed.  Incompletes will be given at the instructor’s discretion and only in cases of extreme emergency.
 

Required Texts

Aron, L. & Harris, A. (2005) Relational psychoanalysis: Innovation and expansion.  Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

Mitchell, S. (1988) Relational concepts in psychoanalysis: An integration.  Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP.

Mitchell, S. & Aron, L. (1999). Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition.  Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

Books are available from Amazon at www.amazon.com 
 

Course Outline

Class I: January 25
Basic Concepts of Relational Theory

Borden, W. (2000). The relational paradigm in contemporary psychoanalysis: Toward a psychodynamically informed social work. Social Service Review, (September), 352-379.  Academic Search Premier

Mitchell, S. (1988). The relational matrix. In S. Mitchell, Relational concepts in psychoanalysis, (pp. 17-40). Cambridge, MA: Harvard.
 

Class II: February 8

Ornstein, E. & Ganzer, C. (2005). Relational social work: A model for the future. Families In Society, 8(4), 565-572.  [Handout]

Mitchell, S. (1988). Clinical implications of the developmental tilt. In S. Mitchell, Relational concepts in psychoanalysis, (pp. 151-172). Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP.

Mitchell, S. (1988) Penelope’s loom. In S. Mitchell, Relational concepts in
psychoanalysis, (pp. 271-306) Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP.
 

Class III: February 22

Hoffman, I. Z. (1999). The patient as interpreter of the analyst’s experience. In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 39-75). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1983)

Davies, J. & Frawley, M. (1999).  Dissociative processes and transference-
countertransference paradigms in the psychoanalytically oriented treatment of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 269-304). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1991)

Hirsh, I. & Roth, J. (1995).  Changing concepts of unconscious. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 31, (263-276).  PEP Archive
 

Class IV: March 17

Ghent, E. (1999). Masochism, submission, surrender: Masochism as a perversion of surrender.  In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 211-242).  Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1990)

Benjamin, J. (1999). Recognition and destruction: An outline of intersubjectivity.  In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 181-210). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1990)

Ogden T. (1999). The analytic third: Working with intersubjective clinical facts.  In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 459-492). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1994)
 

Class V: April 4

Aron, L. (1999). The patient’s experience of the analyst’s subjectivity.  In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.). Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp 243-268).  Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work
published in 1991)

Maroda, K. J. (1999). Show some emotion: Completing the cycle of affective communication. In L. Aron & A. Harris (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: Innovation and expansion, (pp 353-376). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press 

Pizer, S. A. (1999). The negotiation of paradox in the analytic process.  In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp 337-364). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1992)
 
 

Class VI: April 18

Bromberg, P. M. (1999). Shadow and substance: A relational perspective on clinical process.  In S. Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp 379-406). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1993)

Davies, J. M. (1994).  Love in the afternoon: A relational reconsideration of desire and dread in the countertransference. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 4, (153-170).  PEP Archive

Ehrenberg, D. B. (1992). On the question of analyzability. Contemporary
Psychoanalysis, 28, (16-31).  PEP Archive 
 

Class VII: May 2

Stern, D. B. (1999). Unformulated experience: From familiar chaos to creative disorder. In Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 77-107). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1983)

Davies, J. M. (1996). Linking the “pre-analytic” with the postclassical:  Integration, dissociation, and the multiplicity of unconscious process. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 32, (553-576).  PEP Archive  

Renik, O. Analytic interaction: Conceptualization technique in light of the analyst’s irreducible subjectivity. In Mitchell & L. Aron (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: The emergence of a tradition, (pp. 407-424). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press. (Original work published in 1993)
 

Class VIII: May 16

Hoffman, I. (2000).  At death’s door: Therapists and patients as agents. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 10(6), 823-846.  PEP Archive

Altman, N. (2005). Psychoanalysis and the urban poor.  In L. Aron & A. Harris (Eds.), Relational psychoanalysis: Innovation and expansion, (pp. 353-376). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.  (Original work published in 1993)

Leary, K. (2005). Race, self-disclosure, and “forbidden talk”: Race and ethnicity in contemporary psychoanalytic practice. In L. Aron & A. Harris (Eds.),  Relational psychoanalysis: Innovation and expansion, (pp. 353-376). Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.  (Original work published in 1993)
 

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