211 – Foundational Integrative Seminar 1

Description: This seminar integrates the ideas explored in The Evolution and Epistemology of Psychoanalytic Thought course with clinical practice, applying theoretical concepts to case material and to the participants’ lived experience. The initial FIS centers on the therapist’s experience of self and use of self in analytic treatment, including what it means to sustain an analytic attitude and establish an analytic frame. Readings and cases that engage diverse identities, the impact of the social milieu, and the dynamics of power will be woven throughout. We will examine both the shared features and distinguishing qualities of psychoanalytic treatment in relation to other therapeutic modalities. Participants are invited to reflect on the epistemologies that underpin their professional formation and personal perspectives on therapeutic action. An ethics of care—expressed through the therapist’s reliable and attuned presence, respect for the patient’s vulnerability and autonomy, and thoughtful attention to the asymmetry of power and authority—grounds the course as a unifying thread.

Target Audience: This course is intended for clinicians at the beginning to intermediate levels.

Prerequisites:  Every participant must be a matriculated student in the PCC’s Clinical Training Program (either track) and simultaneously enrolled in The Evolution and Epistemology of Psychoanalytic Thought course.