“IF I WERE YOU”: PATHOLOGICAL NARCISSISTIC ORGANIZATIONS

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This program teaches Contemporary Kleinian Technique in our clinical work and theory of mind with narcissistic, borderline and schizoid patients. Clinical material will accompany readings to integrate theory and experience about the internal world and its objects. Kleinian concepts of projective and introjective identification, the paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions, excessive splitting, paranoia, faulty self and object representations will be covered in this seminar. Bion’s concepts of maternal reverie and container-contained in the patient-analyst dyad will be considered as a means to reach the patient. 

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Learning Objectives:

1) Attendees should be able to identify borderline and narcissistic conditions in patients.

2) Attendees will gain a working definition of key concepts of Kleinian psychoanalysis, especially the paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions, paranoia and splitting mechanisms.

3) Attendees will gain expertise in working in the here and now transference-countertransference with these patients.

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THE INS AND OUTS OF PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION AND DENIAL, IN DIFFICULT TO REACH PATIENTS

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The Ins and Outs of Projective Identification and Denial, in Difficult to Reach Patients.

This program addresses the challenging defenses of projective identification, denial, and psychic retreats found in primitive mental states. Attendees will understand the defensive process and its impact on the analyst and learn clinical techniques to manage these primitive defenses in the treatment. Clinical material will be shared to support the didactic component of this workshop to demonstrate the process of emptying out the mind of the patient into the analyst through excessive projection, thus leaving the ego impoverished. The “container-contained” function of the patient-analyst dyad will be explored. 

 

Learning Objectives:

1) Participants will be able to name three common defense mechanisms used by patients to avoid knowing

and owning their own psychic material.

2) Participants will be able to identify and understand the psychoanalytic diagnostic picture of the “Not I” patient

including primitive defense structure.

3)Participants will be able to identify three clinical techniques to utilize with this patient population.

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SEVERE SPLITTING AND EXPULSIVE PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION FOUND IN BORDERLINE PATHOLOGY

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This program examines near psychotic patients with narcissistic pathological organizations and severe borderline character disorders, who often inhabit the mind of the other. 

Through excessive projection and introjection processes, a violent colonization of the other's mind can occur. This seminar will define the parameters of parasitic projective identification and pathological splitting mechanisms, as well as faulty self and object boundaries and identification through a Kleinian lens. Case material will highlight the discussion of theoretical material. 

 

Learning Objectives:

1) Attendees will be able to define projection, introjection and projective identification

2) Attendees will be able to define the process of colonization and imprisonment inside the body and mind of the other

3) Attendees will learn about loss of self identity and intrusion into the other

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LOCATING SAFETY IN THE ANALYTIC PATIENT DYAD: SCHIZOID MODES IN NARCISSISTIC AND BORDERLINE STATES AND 'PSYCHIC RETREAT'

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Schizoid modes and mechanisms can be found in a broad spectrum of patients. In British object relations theory, Klein incorporated Fairbairn's ideas of schizoid defenses in her concepts of the paranoid and schizoid position and projective identification. Disturbances in symbolization often occur in borderline and schizoid patients, who feel there is no safe place to live, and

instead withdraw into a 'psychic retreat.'

 

This seminar will explore the psychic phenomena of this type of patient, including the defense mechanisms that guard the sanity inside, and how to discuss and locate a safe place inside the consultation room with the analyst. 

 

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will be able to:

1) Define the concept of 'psychic retreat'

2) Define the difference between concrete versus symbolic thinking

3) Learn how to understand transference and countertransference phenomena to work with this schizoid, borderline and narcissistic population in our practices.