SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES
CAPA offers special lectures, seminars and courses for students, graduates, and members. A variety of topics will be covered by distinguished members of CAPA's faculty. Upon completion of the Special Lecture Series lecture, seminar or course, student and graduate participants will receive a certification of participation.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CAPA.
2024-2025 sls sEMINARS
Title: Object Relations & Projective identification in Couple Therapy
Presenter: Arthur Nielsen, M.D.
US Seminar Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
US Seminar Time: 8:00 – 10:00 PM Eastern Time
China Seminar Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
China Seminar Time: 09:00 – 11:00 AM China Time
Prerequisites: Open to all CAPA members, students, and graduates
Course size: Open enrollment
Course fee: $20 USD
Description: The concepts of object relations and projective identification are complex. But both are extremely valuable and applicable when working psychoanalytically with individuals and especially with couples. This lecture will dissect and explicate these concepts—related to “people in the mind”—describing them in everyday language that is user-friendly and then illustrating their practical use via case examples.
To do so, this lecture will discuss the following topics:
The distinct meanings of “identification,” “introjection,” “internalization,” “internal objects,” “external objects” and “part-objects.”
The relationship between these concepts and human motivations for good or ill, including internal objects viewed as “the voice of conscience” (the superego) and aspirations/ideals (the ego ideal).
The value of internal objects as stabilizing or calming inner voices and their problematic use in mechanisms of defense.
How people can play either of two interacting roles based on their internalized “object relations.”
The steps involved in projective identification: projection, induction, and identification.
The difference between motivated inductions and paradoxical or “ironic” inductions.
How projective identification is accomplished and how it can be reduced.
The workshop is grounded in Dr. Nielsen’s approach to couple therapy which emphasizes interpersonal process and integrates systemic, psychodynamic, and behavioral/educational principles. To bring the subject matter to life, Dr. Nielsen will present case examples from his extensive practice experience.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn:
The utility of object relations concepts in working with patients, especially with couples.
The component steps of projective identification.
How the “compulsion to repeat” is one form of projective identification.
How “ironic processes” differ from bone fide projective identification.
Strategies to reduce projective identification and the value and limitation of the term “containment” to describe these.
Bio: Arthur Nielsen, M.D. is a full-time, practicing psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and couple therapist in Chicago, Illinois. He is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and a faculty member of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis where he is Associate Director of the Integrative Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy Program.
For many years, he was the coordinator of a popular for-credit course he developed for Northwestern undergraduates, Marriage 101: Building Loving and Lasting Relationships. In recent years, he has lectured nationally and internationally, and has taught online courses on couple therapy to students in the US, Iran, and China.
He is the author of more than 40 published professional papers in the fields of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and couple therapy, together with two textbooks (available on Amazon), A Roadmap for Couple Therapy: Integrating Systemic, Psychodynamic, and Behavioral Approaches and Integrative Couple Therapy in Action: A Practical Guide for Handling Common Relationship Problems and Crises.
His website is: http://www.arthurnielsenmd.com.
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Title: Affective Touch in Neuropsychoanalysis and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Presenter: Arseny E. Tarabanov, Ph.D.
US Seminar Date: February 21, 2025
US Seminar Time: 9:30 – 11:00 AM Eastern Time
China Seminar Date: February 21, 2025
China Seminar Time: 9:30 – 11:00 PM (21:30 – 23:00) China Time
Prerequisites: Open to all CAPA members, students, and graduates
Course size: Open enrollment
Course fee: $20 USD
Description: The seminar examines the concept of Affective Touch, which allows us to apply the achievements of modern neuroscience to understand the characteristics of Traditional and Modern Chinese Medicine. Modern neuropsychoanalysis pays great attention to the concept of Affective Touch, because it allows us to more deeply understand the interaction between the psychotherapist and the patient, the features of certain psychotherapeutic practices. The seminar will also examine the neurobiological basis of affective regulation in the dyadic interaction of mother, significant others and child, which is then reproduced within the framework of a psychotherapeutic session, as well as in a Chinese Medicine session.
Learning Objectives:
Consider the applicability of Affective Touch in psychotherapy in general and in psychoanalytic psychotherapy in particular.
Describe the experience of Affective Touch in Chinese medicine for the treatment of mental and somatic patients.
Briefly characterize the neurobiological mechanisms underlying Affective Touch.
Bio: Doctor Arseny Tarabanov is the Director of Institute of Neurocommunications and Psychotherapy in Vilnius (Lithuania). He is the popularizer of neuropsychoanalysis in the Baltic countries. He designs courses in affective neuroscience, neuropsychoanalysis, and traditional Chinese psychotherapy. He has twenty years of teaching experience and five years of clinical experience. Dr. Tarabanov aims to develop psychotherapeutic methods based on a cross-cultural approach in psychopathology and the latest achievements in neuroscience. His publications include articles on the neuropsychoanalytic approach and chapters of the textbook "Child Psychiatry" devoted to the neuropsychodynamic approach to various types of psychopathology. He has been studying Chinese medicine for many years and applying it to the practice of martial arts. His post-doctoral certifications are in Body Therapy, Child Psychoanalysis, and Contemporary Methods of Family and Group Psychotherapy.
If you have any questions about the seminar, please contact Dr. Tarabanov directly at beobachter1971@gmail.com.
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Title: Use of Rorschach and Man Horse Woman Projective Technique As Adjusted to Therapy and Consultation.
Presenter: Dr. Mallory Starr, Ph.D.
China Seminar Dates: Friday, March 14 & 21, 2025
China Seminar Times: 9:00–10:30 PM (21:00–22:30) China Time
US Seminar Dates: Friday, March 14 & 21, 2025
US Seminar Times: 9:00–10:30 AM Eastern Time
Prerequisites: Open to currently enrolled Advanced Training students and graduates of Advanced Training.
Course size: Three (minimum) to eight (maximum) participants
Course Fee: $30 USD
Description: This two session series will be on the use of Rorschach qualitative results -- meaning what the patient or client says (the raw responses) in response to the Rorschach images. The sessions will also be about administration and inquiry on Rorschach with some attention to a few scoring variables. There will also be some focus on the Man Horse Woman Projective Technique drawings by patients or clients as well as focus on the use of the results for purposes of communication with a patient or client, and, for hypothesis development from results as a base for dialogue and interpretation. This program is more art than science and has been piloted recently with some staff in mental health facilities in China.
Course Objective:
1. To learn about the use of Rorschach qualitative aspects as part of consultation and therapy sessions – i.e. the use of raw projective responses. These raw projective responses are what the patient or client says and does in response to both the Rorschach administration and inquiry and in response to the man horse woman instructions (the picture drawing and spoken or written story).
2. To learn about the history and advantages of the use of qualitative projective techniques as communication and rapport development tools. These techniques can be facilitators of psychodynamic therapy and consultation with patients and clients in a goal directed therapeutic relationship. This program is the application of the art in the mentioned projective techniques. It is much more art than science.
3. To learn the use of projective responses for hypothesis development about a patient or client as well as learning this process for the verbal exploration of hypothesis development from the impressions made from the projective responses.
Important Note: Participants should prepare for the seminar by printing a set of Rorschach cards. Instructions for printing the cards will be provided to participants upon registration.
Bio: R. Mallory Starr, Jr.,Ph.D., the seminar leader has been with CAPA for over 10 years. Early in his career he was a member of a seminar on Rorschach at the University of Chicago and for several years he has been engaged in use of several projective techniques including the Man Horse Woman Projective Technique as part of diagnosis and adjuncts to psychotherapy and consultation with clients as part of private practice and work in universities, healthcare organizations as well as some companies. The focus of his experience as a Licensed Psychologist, (Washington, DC 1973 to 2000) and Management Consultant (CMC imcusa.org since 1990) has been on individuals and groups as part of individual and team insight development consultation and counseling in organizational settings, and, as part of therapy programs with patients or clients who were associated with private practices and mental health organizations. His undergraduate education was at Boston University, AA Degree, West Virginia Wesleyan College, BA, Springfield College Graduate School M.Ed, Pacific Western Institute, Ph.D. and post graduate work at Pennsylvania State University.
If you have any questions about the seminar, please contact Dr. Starr directly at mstarr703@comcast.net.