Presenter:
Philip A. Ringstrom, PhD
Carla M. Leone, PhDChair:
Martin S. Livingston, PhD
Self Psychology Page | 20th Conference Program
This course will essentially present a basic self psychological approach to the treatment of couples and families. In exploring the process of helping family members to achieve the capacity of alternately fulfilling selfobject functions for each other, we will focus on the need to be constantly aware of the narcissistic vulnerability of each of the participants and on the working through of intracouple transferences and countertransferences. A six-step model of conjoint therapy for empathically exploring marital conflict will be presented. As each step is presented, the key concepts of self psychology and intersubjectivity theory upon which it is based will be articulated.
The application of these same concepts will also be applied to family therapy. Optimally functioning parent-child and sibling relationships, as well as dysfunctional ones, will be illustrated and explored in order to provide a background from which to develop an approach to goals and techniques in treatment.
The final class will focus on conflict and aggression in couples and families. Case illustrations will be provided throughout the course and if time allows the class will be invited to present their own case material for discussion or to engage in the role play of a treatment situation.