Descriptive Summaries Of Courses

Introduction to Ethics
Freud I, l893-l909
Freud II, l9l0-l9l7 (to include Abraham’s work l92l-l925)
Theory of Dream Interpretation
Technique Ia
Technique Ib
Psychopathology I
Psychoanalysis and Human Development
Freud III, 1919-1930
Psychoanalytic Theory I
Continuous Case Seminar I
Psychopathology II
Continuous Case Seminar II and III
Continuous Child Case
Technique II
Psychopathology III
Continuous Case Seminar IV and V
Psychoanalytic Theory II
Psychoanalytic Writing I
Ethics
Psychoanalytic Writing II
Technique III
Continuous Case VI, Termination
Electives

Registrants

Introduction to Ethics:
Registrants will take a three session introduction to ethical principles for psychoanalysts. The seminar stresses the boundaries of the psychoanalytic relationship.

First Year

Freud I, l893-l909:
The development of psychoanalysis is presented through an historical review of Freud’s writings in three courses, two in the first year and one in the second year. This course begins with Freud’s early case studies, clinical formulations and self-analysis. It proceeds through the study of dreams, slips and jokes and the theory of the mental apparatus to the later case studies and the theory of sexuality.

Freud II, l9l0-l9l7:
The course covers Freud’s major papers written between 1910 and 1917, exploring the developments in his theory that led eventually to his creation of a new model of the mind: the structural theory. The papers from this period concern the increasing complexity of the topographic model, the role of reality in the formation of intrapsychic structure, and the centrality of the Oedipus Complex as a mental structure. In addition, during this critical period, Freud created developmental models for object relations, narcissism, and morality. This course is organized around the question of what additions to the topographic model led to its becoming an inadequate theory of the mind.

Theory of Dream Interpretation:
This seminar is centered around a close reading of “The Interpretation of Dreams.” The seminar will also address technical issues in dream analysis.

Technique Ia:
This seminar is an introduction to the psychoanalytic situation and the psychoanalytic space. In the context of studying the development of psychoanalytic theory from Freud to contemporary writers, similarities and differences between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis will be addressed. The psychoanalytic space will involve a consideration of the practicalities of an analysis: schedules, fee setting, room arrangements and other less tangible aspects of the analytic milieu. A short paper on an analytic topic of one’s choosing may be required.

Technique Ib:
This early course in psychoanalytic technique is especially focused on the psychoanalyst’s perceptual field, the psychoanalytic attitude, intersubjectivity and the duality of transference-countertransference. Technique Ib moves from the assessment of the patient’s analyzability to the opening and early phases of a psychoanalysis. Participants examine how the psychoanalytic dialogue and process are initiated and sustained by the patient and analyst. The course provides the first opportunity to learn how to present and listen to a clinical psychoanalysis. Members of the class will present the beginning of their first analyses and an advanced candidate will present the initial phase of an ongoing psychoanalysis.

Psychopathology I:
Psychoanalytic theories of psychopathology are presented in three courses, one in the first, one in the third, and one in the fourth years. Each course will cover a specific group of clinical syndromes and disorders. This course begins with an overview of psychoanalytic perspectives on psychopathology, followed by discussion of neurotic symptom formation, hysteria, dissociative states, conversion symptoms and somatization.

Second Year

Psychoanalysis and Human Development:
This course, taught in three trimesters, will follow the various strands of psychic life from infancy to senescence. It will extend the developmental perspective into the various phases of adulthood. Psychoanalytic views of parenthood and the family will be studied. The course will utilize developmentally oriented theoretical writings as well as clinical cases, films, and examples from the literature of normal and abnormal development. As a supplemental and elective experience, arrangements may be made to view developmental examinations and to make direct observations of nursery school children by contacting the relevant faculty. Clinical studies throughout the course will be used to illuminate the whole spectrum of development while shedding light on adaptations of analytic technique to the various stages of development.

Freud III, 1919-1930:
The course begins with the concurrent development of the theory of aggression and the structural theory, proceeds through the reformulation of masochism and the monographs and papers elaborating the structural theory (including anxiety and defense) and ends with a review organized around some major systematizing papers.

Psychoanalytic Theory I:
The first of two courses in psychoanalytic theory, one in the second and one in the fourth year. This seminar builds on and integrates the material from the four Freud reading courses. It provides a summary of the fundamental concepts of psychoanalysis as understood in the American tradition of ego psychology. Concepts such as the unconscious, defense and the formation of psychic structure will be discussed. Structural theory will be reviewed in detail.

Continuous Case Seminar I:
An ongoing analysis, preferably one recently begun, will be presented by a student. Clinical material will be discussed with emphasis on technical aspects.

Third Year

Psychopathology II:
This course will cover psychoanalytic perspectives on the obsessive neuroses and personality disorders, depression and mood disorders, anxiety and post-traumatic disorders and borderline personality disorders.

Continuous Case Seminar II and III:
Psychoanalytic cases will be presented by students in one and one-half hour sessions at weekly intervals. The purpose is to provide group discussion of the detailed clinical problems arising in intensively followed cases.

Continuous Child Case:
This seminar examines psychoanalytic technique as it is adapted to the developmental level and needs of the child. Basic technique principles regarding transference, resistance and defense are discussed.

Technique II:
This is a continuation of the course begun in the first year. Seminar discussions will deal with the later phases in a psychoanalytic treatment in their theoretical and practical aspects – the development of the transference neurosis, possible problems of counter-transference, modifications of classical technique and their indications, the theory of curative action of psychoanalysis, techniques of interpretation, the later phases and termination of treatment, etc. Relevant literature will be assigned.

Fourth Year

Psychopathology III:
This course will cover psychoanalytic perspectives on narcissistic personality, perversions, gender identity and psychotic states.

Continuous Case Seminar IV and V:
These courses are substantially the same as the courses given in the third year, although cases of greater complexity and cases presenting special challenges may be chosen for presentation. On occasion, a borderline patient may serve as the focus for discussion of the indications for and methods of employing technical modifications.

Psychoanalytic Theory II:
This second consideration of theory focuses on the way in which theory is conceptualized by different psychoanalytic traditions. Whereas the first seminar dealt with fundamental theoretical questions from the perspective of ego psychology, the second seminar deals with these issues from the perspective of comparative theory. Self psychology, object relations and relational approaches will be studied and used as multiple vantage points for evaluating the usefulness of particular theoretical ideas.

Psychoanalytic Writing I:
This course in an introduction to clinical psychoanalytic writing. Over the length of the course, candidates will write up one case preparing a brief segment of work for discussion in each class. A model of reporting will be used that places detailed accounts of process within the context of the analysis as a whole. Topics relevant to clinical writing such as process notes, disguise, confidentiality and the ethics of clinical reporting will be discussed. The course will also address issues in writing the graduation essay, the application for certification and articles for publication.

Fifth Year

Ethics:
This seminar allows for a more comprehensive consideration of ethics than possible in the introductory course. Topics for discussion include conflicts of interest, sexual and non-sexual boundary violations, countertransference and the impaired analyst.

Psychoanalytic Writing II:
This seminar will continue the focus on writing case reports and begin the concentration on the psychoanalytic essay. It will meet monthly for two hour sessions during the academic year. Each participant will complete a writing project and present drafts of their work to the group throughout the course.

Technique III:
This course will deal with special problems in clinical psychoanalysis selected by the candidates in consultation with the instructor.

Continuous Case VI, Termination:
This seminar will examine theoretical and clinical aspects of termination in conjunction with the presentation of a case in the terminating phase of psychoanalysis.

Above Fifth Year

Candidates who have completed the required five years of coursework shall take tow electives per year until graduation.

Electives

Candidates take electives in the third, fourth and fifth year of classes. Candidates in the Child Analysis Program may, if they wish, take two of these required electives from the Child Analysis Program and the other two from the general electives offered. After the fifth year, candidates must take two electives each year until graduation. Candidates may not repeat electives that they have already successfully completed for credit.

Elective courses vary from year to year and several are offered in any one year. Examples of electives offered in recent years include: Literature and Psychoanalysis, Clinic Committee, Depression, Analyzability: Prediction and Outcome, Child Analysis: Clinical and Theoretical Perspectives, The Therapeutic Action of Psychoanalysis, The Self, Lacan, Perversions, The Theory of Aggression and The British School of Psychoanalysis.

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