Reading Freud
This course offers a detailed introduction to the work of Sigmund Freud, with a thorough reading and discussion of Freud’s most important writings. Subjects to be covered include the discovery of the unconscious and infantile sexuality; topographical and structural models of the mind; dreams and their interpretation; female sexuality and sexual difference; the case histories; and papers on technique and the process of psychoanalysis.
The seminar runs over 4 terms of 7-8 weeks each. Participants are expected to enrol for the whole year. No previous experience is required.
Seminar leaders include Dr Thea van Hees, Mary O’Brien, Tom O’Brien, Bernadette Rosbrook, Sigrid O’Callaghan and Dr Jaime Yasky.
Term 1: The beginnings of Psychoanalysis
In Term 1 we will examine hysteria and dreams through selected readings from Studies on Hysteria (1895) and The Interpretation of Dreams (1901), which represent the beginnings of Psychoanalysis, and end with Freud’s metapsychology, paper The Unconscious (1915).
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 13 February to 27 March
Fees: $350 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leaders:
Dr Thea van Hees dvanhees@bigpond.net.au or call 07 3832 1096
Sigrid O’Callaghan sigridoc@aapt.net.au
Term 2: Theory of mind, Metapsychology and ‘Dora’
In Term 2 we will begin with what is arguably Freud’s most controversial case history – Fragment of an Analysis of a Case of Hysteria (Dora) (1905) and proceed to study some of his most important papers on metapsychology – Mourning and Melancholia (1917), Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920), and The Ego and the Id (1923).
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 8 May to 26 June
Fees: $350 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leaders:
Mary O’Brien mobrien3@bigpond.net.au or call 07 3844 5855
Bernadette Rosbrook b.rosbrook@gmail.com
Term 3: Theories on Sexuality and ‘Little Hans’
In Term 3 we will examine Freud’s early theories of sexuality beginning with the Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905) and the case of ‘Little Hans’ Analysis of a Phobia in a Five Year Old Boy (1909) and move onto the controversial papers of the 1920’s and early 1930’s – Some Psychical consequences of the Anatomical Distinction between the Sexes (1925) and Female Sexuality (1931).
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 24 July to 11 September
Fees: $350 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the coordinator:
Mary O’Brien mobrien3@bigpond.net.au or call 07 3844 5855
Bernadette Rosbrook b.rosbrook@gmail.com
Term 4: Freud’s Technical papers and Psychoanalytic process
In Term 4 we will look at what are known as Freud’s “technical” papers as well as later writings including Lines of advance in Psycho-analytic therapy (1918), Constructions in Analysis (1937), Analysis Terminable and Interminable (1937) and An Outline of Psycho-Analysis (1938).
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 9 October to 27 November
Fees: $350 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the coordinators:
Tom O’Brien tom.obrien.52@gmail.com or call 0419 735 366
Dr Jaime Yasky jaimeyasky@hotmail.com or call 0468 571 140
Term 2:Working with Borderline states of mind
Understanding borderline psychopathology and treatment continues to be problematic. In this course of 8 weekly seminars there will be a brief overview of some models of treatment followed by readings from a book by Marcus West, “Into the darkest places: early relational trauma and the borderline states of mind” which presents a coherent method of treatment based on attachment theory, early relational trauma and consequent dissociative states. The book reflects the author’s refinement of years of clinical experience into a well thought out theory.
Time: Thursday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Fees: $350 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leader:
Dr Thea van Hees dvanhees@bigpond.net.au or call 07 3832 1096
Term 3:Working with difficult Adolescents
This is a course of 8 weekly seminars that will be based on the book “The Body in Adolescence” by Mary Brady [Routledge 2016]. This book examines the understanding of adolescent development in relation to adolescent patients who present with bodily expressions such as anorexia, bulimia, cutting, substance abuse and suicide attempts. There will be ample opportunity to discuss relevant clinical and work related material.
Time: Thursday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Fees: $ 350
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leader:
Margot Lynch margoth@bigpond.com or call 0407137105
Infant Observation
This is a one or two year course of weekly seminars where participants bring detailed accounts of their weekly observations of an infant in his or her home environment from birth onwards. The course aims to develop observational skills and an understanding of the infant’s emerging relationships. This course is one of the best ways of learning about the observer’s own involvement in clinical situations.
This is an ongoing weekly seminar of 11/4 hours. Participants are expected to enrol for at least one year. There is no prerequisite for this course. There will be a maximum of 4 participants in this seminar.
Fees: $50 per seminar
Time: To be arranged with the seminar leader.
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leaders:
Margot Lynch margoth@bigpond.com or call 07 3832 1089
Janet Rhind jbrhind@gmail.com or call 3832 559
Terms correspond with school terms and are generally of 8 weeks duration
For enrolment and further information contact the Coordinator of the seminar as shown in the program.
Post-Graduate Studies
Students may be eligible for credit towards the Masters in Mental Health – Psychotherapy, University of Queensland upon satisfactory completion of Theoretical seminars offered by the BCPS.
Professional Training Programs
Students may satisfy the theoretical components of psychotherapy training programs offered through the Queensland Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association and the Australian Association of Group Psychotherapists, through satisfactory completion of appropriate Theoretical Seminars and Infant Observation Seminars.
Continuing Professional Education
We are able to supply confirmation of attendance at lectures and seminars for Continuing Professional Education purposes.
Dr Thea van Hees is a psychiatrist in private practice. Her main area of interest is psychoanalytic psychotherapy. She is a member of the Queensland Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association.
Mrs Margot Lynch is a psychologist and psychotherapist in private practice. She has completed the BCPS Child Psychotherapy Course. She is a member of the Queensland Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association. She is on the executive of the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association of Australasia.
Mrs Mary O’Brien is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist in private practice. She is a member of the Queensland Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association and the Australian Association of Group Psychotherapists.
Mr Tom O’Brien is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist in private practice. He trained with the British Association of Psychotherapists. He works in Child and Youth Mental Health and as a Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Queensland.
Ms Sigrid O’Callaghan is a clinical psychologist, trained at Bonn University in Germany. She completed training as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist with the Queensland Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association in 2015 and works in private practice. Her clinical interest is the treatment of disorders of self and understanding primitive anxieties and processes in their etiology. She is a member of the Clinical College of Australian Psychology Society (APS).
Dr Janet Rhind is a member of the Queensland Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association and the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health. She works as a psychotherapist in private practice with adults, as well as consulting to several Infant Parent programs, reflecting her interest in Infant Mental Health.
Ms Bernadette Rosbrook is a psychologist at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital and has a strong interest in psychoanalytically oriented therapies. She has also completed postgraduate studies in literature.
Dr Jaime Yasky is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist with training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, working in the Child and Youth Mental Health Service and in the psychotherapy stream of the Master of Mental Health at the University of Queensland. His PhD project investigated psychoanalytic treatments of patients with psychosomatic disorders. He is familiarised with the work of several authors from different traditions (French, Latin-American and Anglo-Saxon) in this field.
Ms Sally Young is a Senior Social Worker in Child and Youth Mental Health and works as a psychotherapist in private practice. She has done post-graduate training at the Tavistock Clinic, London and has completed the BCPS Child Psychotherapy Course. She is on the executive of the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association of Australasia.
Psychoanalysis has enormously influenced our understanding of psychological processes and has given birth to many different elaborations of Freud’s original theories and to varied forms of treatment. The clinical practice of treating patients belongs to trained practitioners but, as a theory of the mind, anyone who is interested enough can have access to it. It was in this spirit, at the point of confluence of clinical and theoretical practice, that the Brisbane Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies was established.
The BCPS offers seminars of both a practical and theoretical nature to teachers, social workers, psychiatrists, general practitioners, nurses, psychologists and others in the helping professions. Some of the courses offered are open to others who are interested in the contributions of psychoanalysis to modern thinking.
The BCPS operates independently as a non-profit educational body to promote the development of psychoanalytic thinking and its application in clinical and other disciplines.
The BCPS was founded by Gregorio Kohon and Valli Shaio Kohon in 1988. Since their return to London in December 1994, the BCPS has been run by a small group of psychotherapists from Brisbane.
The Brisbane Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies is currently run by:
Dr Thea van Hees | Director of Studies | dvanhees@bigpond.net.au |
Mrs Margot Lynch | Secretary | margotl@uq.net.au |
Mrs Mary O’Brien | President | mobrien3@bigpond.net.au |
Mr Tom O’Brien | Treasurer | tom.obrien.52@gmail.com |
Ms Sally Young | Member | yngs@bigpond.com |
The BCPS is committed to protecting your privacy.
From time to time we need to collect personal information from you, such as your mailing or email address, to process enrolments for courses and public lectures etc and to ensure you are informed of forthcoming events organised by the Centre. We do not share information collected, such as mailing lists or email lists, with third parties, but may forward information concerning activities of other organizations to our lists when we believe they may be of interest to you. To ensure that information such as contact details collected are accurate and up to date we recommend that you advise us of any change of address or invite you to check your details by sending an email to mail@bcps.asn.au