THE PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM
of The Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia

Curriculum

COURSE WORK SCHEDULE

The course work consists of two years of clinical and theoretical seminars along with group supervision and case conferences. Classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:40 P.M. for the first year, and from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. for the second year at Rockland Mansion, East Fairmount Park, 3810 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Philadelphia, PA. The year begins in September and is divided into three eleven-week trimesters.

INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION

Students are required to have weekly individual supervision and will be encouraged to see at least two cases in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Students are expected to have two supervisors during the course of the program. Supervisors must be selected from the faculty in consultation with the program director. All supervisors are experienced clinicians who are members of the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. Supervisory fees are additional and are arranged privately. Supervision at reduced fees is available if needed.

PERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

Personal psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis is essential for a full understanding of the therapeutic process. It is preferable for students to be in personal treatment while participating in the program. This requirement may be waived (e.g., for applicants who have had a sufficient prior therapy experience) by approval of the director. Students will otherwise be expected to begin treatment with a member of our faculty soon after the start of classes. The program director is available to assist in this matter.

ACADEMIC TRACK

An academic track is offered to non-clinicians who do not intend to practice psychotherapy, but to whose work the program is pertinent. Examples include, but are not limited to, clergy, organizational counselors, school counselors, physicians, mediators, attorneys and academicians. The academic track is the same as the clinical track, except that clinical supervision and personal therapy are not required. Instead, the student may benefit from having a mentor, also selected from the list of supervisors and approved by the director.

POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION

Post-graduate education is available to students who have graduated from the training program. Topics vary from year to year, and include classes in both theory and clinical technique. In addition to classes, students have the choice of either continuing in individual supervision or undertaking a research project with the assistance of a faculty advisor. Please contact the program director for information on the offering for 2004. Programs in previous years have focused on trauma, psychodynamic couples therapy, etc.


Schedule & Description of Courses

First Year

Fall Trimester

Group Supervision
This course starts with literature and discussion about initial meetings with patients, evaluation of patients for psychotherapy and dynamic formulations, and moves to a focus on students' questions about their work with their patients.

Technique I
Concurrent with the introductory theoretical course on basic dynamic concepts, this course discusses the technical and clinical concerns relevant to beginning treatment. Topics include the analytic attitude, practical arrangements with the patient, the recognition and understanding of resistance, transference and countertransference, and the use of dreams. This course also begins to examine the various types of therapeutic interventions as it considers the distinctions between psychoanalytic psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and the non-analytic psychotherapies.

Basic Dynamic Concepts
This course presents the fundamental principles of psychoanalytic clinical theory, including such basic concepts as: the dynamic unconscious, psychic conflict, anxiety, defense, regression, and compromise formation. Psychic conflict is described from the perspectives of drive theory, ego psychology, structural theory and object relations theory. The course also considers the limitations of conflict theory and the importance of relational issues. Neurobiological foundations of the psyche and other recent findings that support the validity of psychodynamic therapy will also be discussed.

 

Winter Trimester

Case Conference
Building upon the experience in Group Supervision, this course offers each student the opportunity to present a case in detail for class discussion. The course aims to develop further understanding of the concepts discussed in earlier and concurrent courses by demonstrating their application in clinical situations. Special attention is paid to dynamic formulation and to technique, emphasizing a relational perspective.

Development I
In this and the next trimester, this course covers psychological development from birth through old age. The central tasks and core conflicts of each developmental phase are highlighted. Topics include the "psychological birth" of the child, the emergence of the self, the development of gender identity, the development of object relations and their interplay with sexual and aggressive drives, the Oedipus complex in boys and girls, the development of the super-ego and ego-ideal, latency, puberty and adolescent identity formation, the transition to adulthood, and phases of adulthood and old age.

Theories of Neuroses
This course explores the psychodynamic theories of the formation of neuroses. It is a synthesis of both drive and object relations theories.


Spring Trimester

Development II
(Continues Development I, as described above)

Continuous Case Conference
One or two cases are followed throughout this course in order to examine the psychotherapeutic process in detail as it unfolds. Particular attention is paid to the interplay of transference and countertransference and to the techniques of intervention from a relational perspective.

Psychopathology I
This course emphasizes the central role of unconscious conflict in neurosis, that is, the psychodynamics of symptom and character formation. It examines the influences of infantile neurosis, unconscious wishes, anxiety, defense mechanisms, regression, and inhibition on symptoms and character. Hysterical, phobic, and obsessive-compulsive neuroses are discussed. The course continues over the next two trimesters, considering the dynamics of eating disorders, psychosomatic disorders, substance abuse, perversions, post-traumatic disorders, dissociative disorders, depression, narcissistic, borderline and other personality disorders and psychoses.


Second Year

Fall Trimester

Continuous Case Conference
(As described on previously)

Psychopathology II
(Continuation of Psychopathology I and II from first year)

Technique II
This course continues the emphasis on understanding transference, countertransference, resistance, and working through begun in Technique I. It moves ahead to consider acting out and enactments, the use of dreams and regression in deepening and furthering the treatment, and other topics such as psychotherapeutic ethics, the influence of the sex of the patient and the therapist on the treatment and erotic transference. Methods of interpreting and also of not interpreting, as in supportive psychotherapies, are discussed.

 

Winter Trimester

Psychopathology III
(Continuation of Psychopathology I and II from first year)

Technique III
This final section of the technique course considers the application of psychoanalytic ideas in a variety of settings including group, couple, and family therapies, and examines the complex relations between psychotherapy and medication. The course concludes with a discussion of termination, premature termination, and the possibilities and limitations of the full range of psychoanalytic treatments.

Spring Trimester

Psychopathology III
(Continuation of Psychopathology I and II from first year)

Continuous Case Conference
(As described previously)

 

ACCREDITATION

Physicians (CME credits): This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials Areas and Policies of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of ___ hours in Category 1 credit towards the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Psychologists (CE credits): The Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia maintains responsibility for the program.

Social Workers (CE credits): Continuing Education credit for Continuous Case has been approved by the Commonwealth of PA SW Board Approval #: ________


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