Program of Studies 2024
THEORETICAL SEMINARS
Psychoanalytic theories of Object Relations
This one-year course offers an overview of the development of object relations theories. Starting with Freud’s seminal paper “Mourning and Melancholia” we will move on to read a number of creative thinkers whose work we are still processing today. They include Sandor Ferenczi, Melanie Klein, Ronald Fairbairn, the Kleinians and post Kleinians – Herbert Rosenfeld, Wilfred Bion, Hanna Segal, Betty Joseph and others – and finally Donald Winnicott. Through reading these key theorists alongside discussion of their work, participants will gain a working understanding of object relations theories and their link with contemporary psychoanalytic thinking and practice.
There are 4 terms over the year and each term runs for 8 weeks.
Terms generally fall within school terms.
All seminars will be conducted on Zoom.
Term 1: Ferenczi
Freud in “Mourning and Melancholia” develops for the first time, in a systematic way, a line of thought that would later be termed “object-relations theory”. For this reason, it will be the starting point for this year’s readings on object relations. The remainder of the term will concentrate on the work of Ferenczi. Ferenczi (1873-1933) was a very different clinician and theorist from Freud. He investigated the impact of abuse on children and how it affected their subsequent way of relating to others. His best-known paper is “Confusion of Tongues”. We will read this paper and how it has informed contemporary models of trauma. Other works will also be included e.g. Identification with the Aggressor, his work with traumatised soldiers from WWI and his attempts at mutual analysis.
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 29 January to 18 March 2024
Fees: $500 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the coordinators:
Dr Thea van Hees dvanhees@bigpond.net.au or call 0418 871 936
Sigrid O’Callaghan sigridoc@aapt.net.au
Term 2: W.R. Fairbairn and Melanie Klein
This term explores the beginnings of Object Relations theory through an introduction to the work of Melanie Klein and W.R. Fairbairn. We will review Klein’s fundamental postulates about early emotional life, including the role of the dyadic mother-child relationship, unconscious fantasy, the mental positions that characterise the infant inner world, and some counterpoints from Fairbairn’s ideas about the constitution of the ego, the understanding of impulses, and the centrality of the relationship with the object for the constitution of early psychological life.
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 15 April – 10 June 2024 (not 6 May)
Fees: $500 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leader:
Dr Jaime Yasky jaimeyasky@gmail.com or call 0468 571 140
Term 3: Kleinians and Post Kleinians
Melanie Klein’s ideas were explored and developed further by her immediate circle and by successive generations of psychoanalysts. This term, we will be looking at some of the ways in which Klein’s concepts of projective identification and splitting were taken up by Herbert Rosenfeld, Wilfred Bion, Hanna Segal, Betty Joseph and others to inform developments in psychoanalytic theory and technique. Papers studied this term cover a range of related themes including: theories of thinking, working with psychotic patients, the deepening role of transference and counter-transference, technical difficulties and impasse in treatment. Most of the papers for this term will be taken from the volumes Melanie Klein Today (Volumes 1 & 2) edited by Elizabeth Bott Spillius and Impasse and Interpretation by Herbert Rosenfeld.
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: 22 July to 9 September 2024
Fees: $500 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leader:
Dr Jaime Yasky jaimeyasky@gmail.com or call 0468 571 140
Dr Thea van Hees dvanhees@bigpond.net.au or call 0418 871 936
Bernadette Rosbrook b.rosbrook@gmail.com or call 0410 219 675
Term 4: The Independents and Donald Winnicott (CANCELLED)
This seminar has unfortunately been cancelled for 2024. Details of our 2025 Program of Studies will soon be available on this website.
In this term we will explore the work of the British Independent tradition including the work of Winnicott, Kohon, Symington and Casement. This tradition represents a creative thread in psychoanalysis, that continues to influence and inspire new thoughts in theory and practice.
Time: Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Dates: (not 7 October) 14 October to 2 December 2024
Fees: $500 per term
For enrolment and further information contact the coordinator:
Margot Lynch margoth@bigpond.com or call 0407 137 105
Sally Young yngs@bigpond.com or call 0407162674
*Please note in 2024, all seminars will be virtual, using Zoom.
CLINICAL SEMINARS - THEORY IN PRACTICE*
Term 4: Working with difficult presentations in Adolescence
This is a course of 8 weekly seminars that will reference contemporary authors to examine the psychoanalytic understanding of adolescent developmental challenges and their link to severe clinical presentations during this period of life such as anorexia, gender dysphoria, deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts. The aim is to provide relevant conceptual tools to think through clinical and work-related material.
Time: Thursdays 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Date: 10th October to 28th November, 2024
Fee: $500 per term
For enrolment and further information contact:
Dr Jaime Yasky jaimeyasky@gmail.com or call 0468 571 140
*Please note in 2024, all seminars will be virtual, using Zoom.
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES*
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.
Fee: $50 per seminar
Time and dates to be arranged with the seminar leader
For enrolment and further information contact the seminar leaders:
Dr Robyn Leigh leighrobyn67@gmail.com or call 07 3832 5159 or 0404 499 044
*Please note in 2024, all seminars will be virtual, using Zoom.